In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service, the Office of Community Engagement is inviting the campus community to participate in meaningful volunteer opportunities.

In addition to these opportunities, the San Bernardino and Palm Desert campuses will be closed on Monday, Jan. 20, when the university observes the state holiday commemorating the late civil rights leader.

The CSUSB Palm Desert Campus will honor the legacy of King by giving back to the community with a service project at the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission on Wednesday, Jan. 22, from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

The San Bernardino campus continues the celebration at the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino (CAPSBC) with a large-scale food packing project on Friday, Jan. 24, from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Volunteers will work together in the CAPSBC warehouse to pack food boxes for underserved families in the region.

The events are open to all CSUSB students, faculty and staff. Volunteers will be provided free transportation, a commemorative volunteer T-shirt and a complimentary lunch.

The Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service, observed on the third Monday of January each year, is a day dedicated to making a difference in local communities and empowering people to give back. This year’s events are part of a nationwide effort to encourage individuals to dedicate their time to service in honor of King’s commitment to justice, equality and community upliftment.

The Office of Community Engagement received a $3,000 grant to fund the events from Corporation for National and Community Service (AmeriCorps) and LEAD California, a coalition of California colleges and universities dedicated to supporting civic engagement and service learning. Through this funding, CSUSB was able to organize the events and make a direct impact on the lives of local families in need.

To register, visit the events’ Qualtrics webpages for the CSUSB Palm Desert and San Bernardino campuses.

For more information, email leaveyourpawprint@csusb.edu.