FILE: Red Cross volunteer Shelley Smedley loads up a Red Cross van in Murray on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021, before heading to Louisiana to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. (Kristin Murphy/Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — This Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service, the Red Cross of Utah encouraged Utahns to donate blood and volunteer to help those in their community.
MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service.
According to a release from the Utah Red Cross, volunteers last year helped nearly 200 families displaced by home fires install free smoke alarms.
Furthermore, volunteers held around 3,000 blood drives collecting about 90,000 units of blood.
“We invite our community members to act on Dr. King’s legacy today and commit to volunteering with us throughout the year,” said Heidi Ruster, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross Utah/Nevada Region. “Service has the power to bring communities together, build bridges, and heal divides. Service unites people regardless of race, religion, or zip code.”
Over 1000 residents in the state volunteered over 48,000 hours last year to help their communities.
The American Red Cross website offers more information on volunteering as well as an application to volunteer here in Utah.
“Today we encourage residents to become Red Cross volunteers and answer Dr. King’s call to serve and make a difference in the lives of the people in our community,” Ruster said.