Turning Care Into Action on MLK Day of Service
The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is a reminder to honor Dr. King’s legacy not with rest, but with action. Often described as a “day on, not a day off,” the holiday invites people across the country to volunteer, strengthen their neighborhoods, and work toward Dr. King’s vision of a more just and caring community.
On January 19, Community Forklift was proud to take part in that tradition alongside partners, volunteers, and neighbors throughout Prince George’s County.
Cleaning Trails and Building Stewardship
In partnership with the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation and Anacostia Trails Heritage Area (ATHA), Community Forklift helped organize a volunteer cleanup along the Anacostia River Trail’s Northwest Branch Trail and our reuse warehouse.
Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman joined Maryland Service Corps members and volunteers to remove litter, beautify public spaces, and care for a vital part of the Anacostia watershed. The work was hands-on, collaborative, and deeply aligned with the spirit of the day.
As Comptroller Lierman shared during the event:
“Direct volunteer work is where care becomes action, and action becomes real and visible change. Thank you to the incredible team at Community Forklift and ATHA for showing what true stewardship looks like and for leading the way in keeping the Anacostia watershed vibrant and beautiful.”
Moments like these underscore how environmental care, community connection, and service are inseparable.
Service Inside the Warehouse and Beyond
The spirit of MLK Day of Service continued at our reuse warehouse, where Honor Roll Remodeling generously volunteered their time and expertise. Their team installed 100 feet of pallet racking, expanding our storage and overstock capacity for online-listed materials and helping us operate more efficiently behind the scenes.
That same commitment to connection carried into our outreach at District 22 Night in Annapolis. It was a joy to meet so many neighbors at the event, hear firsthand how reused materials are transforming homes and projects, and introduce new people to Community Forklift’s mission.
With Gratitude
This MLK Day of Service was made possible by volunteers, partners, and neighbors who showed up ready to help. We’re deeply grateful to everyone who gave their time and energy! Your service keeps our shared spaces stronger, cleaner, and more connected.
“Direct volunteer work is where care becomes action, and action becomes real and visible change. Thank you to the incredible team at Community Forklift and ATHA for showing what true stewardship looks like and for leading the way in keeping the Anacostia watershed vibrant and beautiful.”
Every time you donate or shop at Community Forklift, you’re helping us lift up local communities through reuse. We turn the construction waste stream into a resource stream for communities in the DC region – by keeping perfectly good items out of the landfill, preserving historical materials, providing low-cost building supplies, and creating local green jobs.
