City of Bloomington “A Day On! Not A Day Off!”
Bloomington, Indiana

Each year, the city of Bloomington, Indiana celebrates the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service by bringing community organizations together to plan and undertake service projects that address the city’s diverse needs. Area schools, colleges and universities, social service agencies, communities of faith, and other organizations partner with the City to develop a range of service projects like graffiti removal, food preparation at local shelters, and facilities renovation in schools and community spaces.

In addition to assisting with project planning, the city of Bloomington helps partner organizations recruit volunteers by publicizing the Day’s activities through public service announcements in local newspapers and publications, community fliers, and updates to the City’s website. These partnerships not only ensure that the City’s “A Day On! Not A Day Off!” activities are a success, but they strengthen the capacity of volunteer organizations by recruiting new volunteers to engage in community service opportunities throughout the year.

The MLK Day of Service is a great opportunity to partner with area schools, faith-based organizations and others to further common goals including volunteer recruitment and greater awareness of community needs. The tips below can help you think about partnership ideas and opportunities:

• Engage community partners who can assist with project planning, fundraising, publicity, and volunteer recruitment
• Schedule regular planning meetings or conference calls, and assign clear roles and responsibilities
• Recognize project partners and sponsors at service activities and in publicity leading up to the Day
• Reconvene following the Day to discuss successes and areas for improvement
  Thank project partners and sponsors

To learn more about the City of Bloomington “A Day On! Not A Day Off!” service projects and partners, visit http://bloomington.in.gov/cfrd.