THE CITIZEN BLOG — Hands On Atlanta

APRIL 2025 IS GLOBAL VOLUNTEER MONTH - JOIN OUR SPRING FOR SERVICE

Tim Adkins

Snowballs, Supper and Service - Looking back at the 2025 MLK Days of Service

It was just 10 days ago when 5-6 inches of perfect packing snow painted the city. Snowmen came alive across neighborhoods, kids (and let’s face it - grown adults, myself included) were sledding down the streets and literally skiing in Piedmont Park, and the start of the 2025 MLK Days of Service was put on hold.

The good news is the snow didn’t last, and what came next was one of the biggest, most impactful stretches of service in our 35 years. Together, 5,000 volunteers showed up at over 400 projects in support of 75 different nonprofits and schools. The week culminated on the King Holiday alongside the College Football Playoff National Championship and the start of a new presidential administration. Here’s a look back at some of the highlighted projects from the historic, 2025 MLK Days of Service.

,

Atlanta Rallies for 2025 MLK Days of Service with 400+ Volunteer Projects

,

Hands On Atlanta to celebrate the MLK Days of Service by engaging 5,000 volunteers to support over 50 nonprofits

ATLANTA, GA: Hands On Atlanta will lead 10 days of service from January 10-20, featuring over 400 volunteer projects supporting more than 75 nonprofits and schools. The effort will culminate on the 2025 King Holiday, aiming to engage over 5,000 people in service, honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy through meaningful action and community impact.

“MLK Day is a powerful reminder that service can bring people together and create lasting change in our community,” said Jay Cranman, President and CEO of Hands On Atlanta. “Atlanta’s spirit of service runs deep, and we’re proud to work alongside our incredible partners and sponsors to honor Dr. King’s legacy by turning reflection into action.”

The 2025 Hands On Atlanta MLK Days of Service are presented by Delta Air Lines and The Coca-Cola Company with 30 other supporting sponsors including AmeriCorps, The College Football Playoff Foundation, The Home Depot Foundation, Cargill, and Ben and Jerry’s. 

“Delta is proud to be presenting sponsor of the 2025 MLK Days of Service with Hands On Atlanta, offering hundreds of volunteer opportunities throughout the week as we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Our commitments to community, equity, and social impact underscore our mission to connect and reflect the world by serving others. On MLK Day, 150 Delta volunteers will pack meal kits to serve four Atlanta Public Schools for a day on, not a day off," said Amal Yusuf, General Manager-ACS for Delta Air Lines and Board member for Hands On Atlanta.

Featured events, ideal for coverage:

  • Jan. 16 -  Hands On Atlanta welcomes Cargill to their new office in Atlanta with a large-scale meal pack to benefit students in Title 1 schools

  • Jan. 17 – Hands On Atlanta will host a hygiene kit pack for Ebenezer Baptist Church and Restoring One’s Hope from their warehouse at 970 Jefferson St. Michael Smith, CEO of AmeriCorps and Dr. Bernice King, CEO of The King Center will be in attendance

  • Jan. 19 - 11th Annual MLK Sunday Supper presented by Coca-Cola will convene 300 community, corporate and civic leaders at the Atlanta History Center to discuss environmental justice. The event will feature Rodney Bullard from The Same House, Nathanial Smith from the Partnership for Southern Equity, Chandra Farley, Atlanta’s Chief Sustainability Officer and Mindy Goldstein, Director of the Turner Environmental Law Clinic ~ Director of the Environmental Law Program at Emory University

  • On the King Holiday, Jan. 20 - 200 volunteers from the College Football Playoff Foundation will pack meals and STEAM kits at Hope Hill Elementary and another 150 volunteers from Delta Air Lines will pack meals for students in Title 1 schools

“The Coca-Cola Company is proud to join Hands On Atlanta for the 11th Annual MLK Sunday Supper. We’re honored to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy as we engage with civic, corporate and community leaders on meaningful ways to support the communities we serve.” said Alba Baylin, Vice President, Stakeholder and Social Impact Management at The Coca-Cola Company North America. 

There is still a great need for community volunteers to “take the day on.” To get involved and find a project to join or for more information on special events from collaborative partners at The King Center, Atlanta History Center, and Morehouse College visit our website at mlkatl.org or handsonatlanta.org  

,

Connection, fun and impact highlight the 2024 edition of hands on atlanta week

,

For the 2024 edition of Hands On Atlanta Week, presented by Delta Air Lines, more than 3,000 volunteers supported over 50 nonprofits and schools across 300 projects! The focus for the week prioritized projects around Food Security and Hurricane Helene relief efforts, but volunteers created meaningful impact in all kinds of areas including building bikes, park beautifications, tutoring elementary students and so much more!

2024 9/11 Day in Review | Atlanta Remembers What We're Capable of Doing Together

For the last 5 years, we’ve gone big to commemorate the 9/11 Day of Remembrance. The day of service that originated in an effort to “take back the day,” highlights the good that can be created when we unite in service. Together, more than 1,400 volunteers packed 510, 336 meals. The meals were donated to the Atlanta Community Food Bank for distribution to families across the region.

2024 High Five Party | Celebrating 1,000,000 volunteers

Welcome to the Hands On Atlanta High Five Party and our 35th birthday celebration

We’re so thrilled to celebrate 35 year of mobilizing the Atlanta community to tackle our city’s most pressing needs. From service trailblazers like Michelle Nunn and Bill Bolling to Mayor Shirley Franklin, Ann Cramer, and so many others, our work exists because of individuals who embody the example of the saying, “it takes a village.”

Share

Atlanta Influences Everything - Looking back at the 2024 MLK Days of Service

MLK Day is special no matter where you are, but here in Atlanta, it just means more.

Channeling the mantra of our friends at Atlanta Influences Everything, for the 2024 MLK Days of Service, presented by Delta Air Lines, Hands On Atlanta set out to showcase the good we can create by coming together to help build Dr. King’s “Beloved Community.” We put the spotlight on our community of do-gooders and changemakers and challenged Atlanta to help us tackle our city’s most pressing needs. More than 3,000 volunteers stepped up to serve over January 11-15, 2024. These volunteers braved cold temps to support 50 nonprofits and schools across metro Atlanta.

Here’s a look back at some of the projects and lasting impact they created:

,

Hands On Atlanta Week Makes Big Impact

,

For the 2023 edition of Hands On Atlanta Week, presented by Delta Air Lines, more than 2,500 volunteers supported over 50 nonprofits and schools at 250 projects! The focus for the week prioritized projects around our three strategic impact areas - Food Security, Educational Equity and Environmental Sustainability. Check out all the impact in this recap.

PROUD champion PARTNERS