Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a national day of service — a chance to honor Dr. King’s legacy by supporting neighbors, strengthening communities, and giving back in meaningful ways. Whether you have an hour to volunteer, want to donate resources, or are looking for ways your team or family can serve, here are local opportunities across New York City, Connecticut, New Jersey, The Hamptons, Hudson Valley, and Florida.
New York City
Volunteer with New York Cares — New York Cares connects volunteers with projects across the five boroughs, from food pantry support to park clean-ups and tutoring. Find opportunities and sign up on their volunteer portal.
https://www.newyorkcares.org/volunteers
Search MLK Day–specific opportunities on NYC Service — NYC Service aggregates volunteer events across the city including MLK Day service projects like packing hygiene kits and food/clothing drives.
https://www.nycservice.org/search
Support NY Common Pantry — Volunteers assist with pantry distribution, hot meal programs, and supplemental food for seniors.
https://nycommonpantry.org/volunteer/
Connecticut
Volunteer with United Way of Connecticut — United Way coordinates volunteer opportunities statewide, including MLK Day service projects supporting education, housing stability, and food insecurity. Search by location or cause area.
https://www.unitedway.org/local/united-states/connecticut
Support Connecticut Foodshare — Help pack and distribute food for families across the state through warehouse shifts and mobile pantry programs.
https://ctfoodshare.org/volunteer/
Serve with Hands On Hartford — Participate in meal service, donation sorting, and neighborhood outreach supporting Hartford residents experiencing housing and food insecurity.
https://handsonhartford.org/volunteer/
New Jersey
Volunteer with Jersey Cares — Jersey Cares organizes volunteer projects throughout New Jersey, including MLK Day opportunities ranging from environmental cleanups to community outreach and youth programs.
https://www.jerseycares.org/
Support Community FoodBank of New Jersey — Volunteers assist with sorting food donations, packing boxes, and supporting mobile pantry distributions statewide.
https://cfbnj.org/volunteer/
Serve with Habitat for Humanity of New Jersey — Participate in build projects, repair programs, and neighborhood revitalization initiatives across multiple counties.
https://www.habitatnj.org/volunteer/
The Hamptons / East End
Volunteer with Heart of the Hamptons — Support food pantry operations, meal distribution, and community outreach serving families across Southampton and surrounding areas.
https://www.heartofthehamptons.org/volunteer/
Support The Retreat Domestic Violence Services — Donate supplies or volunteer to support survivors of domestic violence in Eastern Suffolk County.
https://theretreatinc.org/get-involved/
Serve with Long Island Cares — Participate in food sorting, packing, and distribution efforts at locations serving the East End and greater Long Island.
https://www.licares.org/volunteer/
Hudson Valley
Volunteer with People’s Pantry at Cornell Cooperative Extension — Support local food access programs and nutrition education initiatives throughout the region.
https://ccenrockland.org/
Serve with Hudson Valley Food Bank — Help pack and distribute food to families across Dutchess, Ulster, Orange, and surrounding counties.
https://regionalfoodbank.net/volunteer/
Volunteer with Scenic Hudson — Participate in trail maintenance, river cleanups, and conservation projects supporting regional environmental stewardship.
https://scenichudson.org/volunteer/
Florida
Volunteer with Feeding South Florida — Assist with food sorting, packing, and community distribution programs serving Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties.
https://feedingsouthflorida.org/volunteer/
Serve with United Way of Palm Beach County — Support volunteer projects focused on education, housing stability, and disaster relief.
https://unitedwaypbc.org/volunteer/
Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity of South Florida — Participate in home builds, neighborhood revitalization projects, and ReStore support opportunities.
https://habitatbroward.org/volunteer/
Leave a Reply