SERVE Philadelphia wants to log 100,000 hours of volunteer service in 2018

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is next Monday, and with it comes the annual call for Philadelphians to give back to their community through volunteering.

To supplement this year’s Day of Service activities, the city’s Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteer Services, aka SERVE Philadelphia, just announced its #CommitToServe campaign to log 100,000 service hours by Philadelphians in 2018.

“Philadelphia’s MLK Day of Service in 2017 alone welcomed tens of thousands of people performing service projects across the city,” said Stephanie Monahon, the city’s chief service officer, in a statement. “We’re confident we can meet and surpass this goal because we know that Philadelphians not only care, but act. We can show the rest of the country how committed we are to service here.”

(Read Monahon’s guest post on how her office can help local businesses meet their CSR goals here.)

SERVE offers its own volunteer opportunities, including its Foster Grandparents and Philly Reading Coaches programs, but after Jan. 15, it will also connect those who pledge their interest in helping the city meet its 100,000-hour goal to volunteer opportunities throughout the city.

“MLK Day brings a lot of buzz to the volunteer world. Everyone is thinking about service and how they can make a positive impact on their community,” Monahon said via email. “The challenge is how do we keep these people engaged in meaningful service throughout the year. My hope is the #CommitToServe campaign provides that extra bit of excitement and support to keep people coming back throughout the year.”

And as a reminder: Yes, there’s long-term value in a short-term volunteer project.