National Day(s) of Service This Weekend

The long-term goal is to "reignite the American tradition of service and volunteerism." To that end, Barack and Michelle Obama have announced a National Day of Service on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 19). It's a precursor to the Presidential Inauguration, a celebration of the spirit of Dr. King -- and a chance to kick start this new political era with a unified social contribution.

Volunteer opportunities are available from January 17 to January 19. You can also host (and then post) your own event for others to join.

It's pretty simple. The main hub is at the USA Service website. You plug in your zip code, how far you want to travel, and which dates this weekend you'd like to volunteer. This will bring up a list of opportunities meeting your criteria. From there, you just need to sign up and show up.

The volunteer opportunities are diverse: packing lunches for the homeless, habitat restoration projects, park beautification, pet food and toy drives, food and blanket donations, and a variety of benefits and services.

Here's Michelle Obama's message on the event. You can find resources, a FAQ and more details at the USA Service website.

For local Presidential Inauguration parties and benefits: San Francisco & Bay Area Inauguration Events