SEASONS OF SERVICE

The Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership helps connect volunteers with a year-round calendar of local and national service events.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service – January
Since 1994, thousands of Americans across the country have celebrated this national holiday honoring the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by serving in their communities, making the holiday “a day ON, not a day off.”

Cesar Chavez Day of Service & Learning – March
Cesar Chavez believed that people have an obligation to contribute to their community. In California, March 31st has been established as Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning, which engages thousands of K-12 students annually in service projects to honor Chavez’s life and work. Students join together with their parents, teachers, and business and community members for beautification and park clean-up projects, programs to harvest fields of excess crops, and community health fairs.

Global Youth Service Day – April
GYSD is an annual global event led by Youth Service America along with the Global Youth Action Network. Its goal is to mobilize youth and adults to identify and address the needs of their communities through service, and recruit the next generation of volunteers. It also seeks to educate the public about the role of young people as community leaders by highlighting their contributions to the community year-round.

National Youth Service Day – April
NYSD is the largest service event in the world, mobilizing millions of young Americans to identify and address the needs of their communities through service. It also serves as an opportunity to recruit the next generation of volunteers and educate the public about the role of youth as community leaders.

National Volunteer Week – April
This week is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the efforts of volunteers at the local, state and national levels.

Marin Human Race – May
Marin County’s largest and most successful collaborative community event brings over 2,500 Marin community members together to walk, run, and race, raising funds for over 150 local nonprofit agencies and schools. The event provides an opportunity for all participating nonprofits to raise money for their programs and enables community members to support the nonprofit of their choice. Youth can get involved as volunteers and fundraisers for their schools and community organizations.

Join Hands Day – June
This national event unites young people and adults in an effort to improve their neighborhoods. The objective is to reach across generations and work with new friends to identify and solve problem conditions right where you live.

Week of Caring – September
Week of Caring is a partnership between The Volunteer Centers of the Bay Area and United Way of the Bay Area. Employee volunteer teams are matched with fun and meaningful service projects at local nonprofit organizations. Projects range from helping with physical tasks such as painting and landscaping to serving people in need.

Make a Difference Day - October
Created by USA WEEKEND Magazine, Make A Difference Day is an annual celebration of neighbors helping neighbors that takes place on the fourth Saturday of October.

Holiday Gifts of Love – November - December
Holiday Gifts of Love is our annual end-of-the year drive to connect families, service clubs, congregations, schools and co-workers to fun and rewarding service projects around our community. These one-time projects provide an excellent opportunity for agencies to attract potential long-term volunteers and supporters. We also receive many requests from families who want to help out on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.  Nonprofits submit one-time service projects or donation drives which the Center posts on our website and publicizes to the community. Volunteers then contact the Center directly or search our online catalog of opportunities to find project that suits their needs. Together we can make the holiday season true days of celebration for Marin. For more information, please contact (415) 479-5710.

National Family Volunteer Day - November
National Family Volunteer Day is designed to introduce families to the idea of community service, showcase the benefits of families working together, and encourage those who haven’t yet made the commitment to volunteer.