AU officials predict this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Jan. 17 will break several AU volunteerism records.
The goal is to beat last year’s record of 956 hours of community service, said Donald Curtis, the operations director of AU’s Center for Community Engagement and Service.
Over 300 members of the AU community have already signed up to volunteer at D.C. organizations, at least 50 more than last year’s number. Curtis said he is 80 percent confident the goal of 1,000 hours will be reached.
He expects 250 to 300 pledged volunteers to ultimately attend the event.
The number of volunteers more than tripled in the eight-year history of the event, Curtis said. By 2009, participation increased to 142 people from fewer than 50. In 2010, 239 people served throughout the District.This year’s volunteers will focus on challenging D.C. poverty.
“We wanted to attack different forms of poverty and address different groups of concern locally,” Curtis said
This year’s sites keep that theme in mind, and volunteers will help residents battling homelessness, hunger, HIV/AIDS and problems facing the elderly.
New sites for 2011 include Campus Kitchen, Damien Ministries and the Family Health and Birth Center.
rkaras@theeagleonline.com
