MLK Day rallies to pump up teen helpers

Published 12:01 am Sunday, January 16, 2011

EVERETT — The Everett YMCA is one of three sites set for a rally Monday morning.

The rally in Everett, along with similar events at the Mukilteo and Marysville YMCAs, are to help get more than 200 teens ready to volunteer on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

“We’re going to put them in T-shirts and get them pumped up about volunteering on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and send them off to different locations in the community,” said Michelle Morris, senior manager of community engagement at United Way.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is a partnership with United Way of Snohomish County’s Youth United program, the YMCA’s Minority Achiever’s Program and seniors from Catholic Community Services’ Retired Senior Volunteer Program to make the holiday a “day on instead of day off,” Morris said.

Volunteers ages 55 and older from the Retired Senior Volunteer Program will be paired with 240 teen volunteers ages 14 to 19.

The teams will be visiting the homes of Snohomish County residents who need help performing household chores in order to live independently. The volunteers will wash dishes and windows, sweep floors, mow lawns and complete other chores.

Teens registered to take part in the day of service through United Way of Snohomish County. Nearly three times as many teens signed up for this year’s event than last year. Registration is now closed for Monday’s event.

“We’re looking at a cross generational opportunity here,” Morris said. “This is fun. It’s exciting for the volunteers.”

Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491; adaybert@heraldnet.com.