Petty Officer 3rd Class Rylan Burchell, left, hospital corpsman, and Sgt. Chester Ginter, motor transportation chief, both with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, assemble boxes during a volunteer event in Vista, California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Emmanuel Ramos)

In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., millions of Americans will offer their day off as a day of service. This gesture, which distinguishes Martin Luther King Jr. Day from other national observances, helps people make a community more than a simple collection of individuals.

Service is beneficial to those who need help and to those performing the service. In fact, research shows those who volunteer often experience greater health benefits than those who receive support.

For men and women with a traumatic brain injury or psychological health concerns, connecting with others, especially in their communities, is an important part of recovery.

“I think that one of the major problems [for injured service members], in addition to loneliness and depression, is loss of community,” said Dr. Donald Marion, senior clinical consultant for the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center. “Service can be an excellent way to get reconnected to the community.”

If you are looking for the chance to volunteer, the MLK Day of Service, part of the president's national call to service initiative, offers several projects.

Discover more volunteer ideas here:

• #MLKDay2015 on Twitter
• President’s United We Serve initiative
• Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service
• Past DCoE blog post on ways to give back

Whether service is a family tradition or a new experiment, consider making Jan. 19 a “day on” instead of just another “day off.” We want to hear how you give back to your community, connect with others. Please share comments with us below or on our page on Facebook.