Many Honor Dr. King By Volunteering

Tues., Jan. 20, 2009
WPTZ-TV

BURLINGTON, Vt. – Hundreds of people jammed City Hall in Burlington Monday to volunteer their help for charity, many more that organizers at the annual MLK day of service were prepared for.

“This is crazy turnout,” said AmeriCorps organizer Emily Eschner as she looked out at the crowd that filled every available slot at a dozen local nonprofit groups. “We’re weren’t prepared for this!”
It didn’t matter whether the task was cleaning kitchens at the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, or sorting tires at the Good News Garage, on this day many just wanted to lend a hand.

Stephanie Stowe of Fairfax spent the afternoon with her two kids at Good News Garage, a bottle of window cleaner in one hand, paper towels in the other.

The nonprofit needed the interiors cleaned on six cars they have repaired and expect to deliver to low-income families in the next two weeks. Asked why she volunteered, Stowe didn’t hesitate. “Because President-elect Obama asked me to.”

The incoming president had urged Americans to devote some of the day to honor the legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King. It was clear by the record crowd in Burlington that many heeded the call.

Some events were planned weeks in advance to coincide with MLK Day.

Network Performance, a South Burlington computer company, sent its entire staff of 13 to spend the day at The Howard Center a nonprofit mental health agency, providing workstation maintenance and software upgrades.

“We’re a charity and we struggle with resources,” said Howard IT Director Russ Stratton. “It’s a wonderful gift they’re giving us.”

Maggie Holt, a physical therapist at Fletcher Allen hospital, said she looks forward to the day each year. “I took today off so I could come to this with my kids and make it meaningful,” she said, while working on the front seat of an old Honda at Good News Garage.

“They’re a huge help,” the charity’s director, Michael Muzzy, said of his volunteer team during a break Monday.

“Maybe this country has a chance at something to be proud of again,” Stowe said.