Groups offer volunteer opportunities for families on MLK Day

Around the country, people will take the day to volunteer their time to make their communities a little better and a little brighter. And there are opportunities here in the Triangle for kids to help out.

Posted 1:55 a.m. Jan 15, 2016 — Updated 1:55 a.m. Jan 15, 2016

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

If your kids are like most around here, it's likely they have Monday off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Here's a list of ways to get involved:

The United Way of the Greater Triangle's MLK Day of Service offers volunteer opportunities across the Triangle for all ages. Many of the slots are filled, but that doesn't mean it's too late to help. The United Way also has the 40 Days of Peace, which runs through Feb. 27. This is an extension of the MLK Day of Service and offers more ways to help out.

If you're looking for other ongoing volunteer opportunities for families, Activate Good's website lists many.

Book Harvest in Durham also is having a big event from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, at Durham Central Park.The Dream Big Book Drive is the group's biggest event of the year where they'll be collecting books to distribute to those in need. Book Harvest's website has a took kit for families interested in holding a book drive to collect books before Monday's event. You also can just round up new and gently used books at home and donate them at the event.

Community groups will hold an annual birthday party for King from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday, at Northgate Mall's Center Court. There will be cake, activities, service projects and more.

And Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh, which will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, will host Community Heroes Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday. Kids can get a chance to meet a paramedic, teacher and police officer, among others. They also can help out by packing food for Backpack Buddies to provide healthy food for kids in need and make blankets for hospitals and shelters with Project Linus - Wake County Chapter. It is free with admission, which is $5 per person.

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