WASHINGTON–The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, is taking part in a national service partnership with organizations across 18 cities to serve LGBT homeless youth for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.

Officially recognized on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 20^th), MLK Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service – a “day on, not a day off.” Its purpose is to empower individuals and unite communities to address national challenges.

For MLK Day of Service, HRC is engaging its supporters and allies to address the challenge of LGBT youth homelessness. According to a study by the Williams Institute, The Palette Fund, and the True Colors Fund, LGBT youth make up to 40% of homeless and at-risk youth. Also, according to a study by Center for American Progress, LGBT youth are eight times more likely to commit suicide if rejected by family members.

“Dr. King said that ‘injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,’ and we firmly believe that real progress must reach LGBT young people in cities big and small who disproportionately face harsh treatment, abuse, even homelessness,” said HRC National Field Director Marty Rouse. “MLK Day of Service is a day to make a difference in their lives, and it speaks to a year-round commitment to bring justice and equality to everyone, everywhere.” 

With the support of its members and supporters, HRC is partnering with health & human service providers in 18 cities on a range of activities that will provide hundreds of volunteers with a meaningful service experience while addressing LGBT youth homelessness: from organizing donation drives of clothing and toiletries; to assembling care packages of travel-sized hygiene items, school supplies, and winter accessories; to minor renovation projects. Altogether, HRC is partnering with 23 health & human service providers across 18 cities. They are Lifeworks (Austin), Boston Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, & Transgender Youth (Boston), Broadway Youth Center (Chicago), Lighthouse Sheakley Center for Youth (Cincinnati), The AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland (Cleveland), Montrose Grace Place (Houston), AIDS Project Los Angeles (Los Angeles), Covenant House (New Orleans), the Hetrick-Martin Institute (New York City), The Church of St. Luke’s in the Fields (New York City), Casa Youth Shelter (Los Alamitos), Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development (Phoenix), SMYRC & Q Center (Portland), Triple Point (Portland),  Roy Maas’ Youth Alternatives  (San Antonio), San Diego Youth Services (San Diego), Larkin Street Youth Services (San Francisco), SunServe (Wilton Manors / Ft. Lauderdale), Avenues for Homeless Youth (Minneapolis), The Bridge for Youth (Minneapolis), Casa Ruby (Washington, D.C.), Sasha Bruce Youthwork (Washington, D.C.), and The DC Center (Washington, D.C.). HRC is inviting other organizations such as businesses, schools, and places of worship to support these efforts.

For more information about these service projects, please visit www.hrc.org/mlkdayofservice.

MLK Day of Service in Austin

On Saturday, January 18, HRC Austin and LifeWorks are partnering on a service activity for MLK Day of Service. Activities include assembling donated items into care bags for LGBT homeless youth, beautifying LifeWorks’s facilities, and serving food to LGBT homeless and at-risk youth.

WHAT: MLK Day of Service in Austin

WHEN: Saturday, January 18

 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: LifeWorks Youth Outreach Center

408 W. 23rd Street

 Austin, TX 78705
WHO: Human Rights Campaign and LifeWorks

MLK Day of Service in Boston

On Monday, January 20, HRC Boston and BAGLY are partnering on a service activity for MLK Day of Service. Activities include assembling donated toiletries, winter accessories, and other items into care bags for LGBT homeless youth.

WHAT: MLK Day of Service in Boston

WHEN: Monday, January 20

 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: BAGLY

 14 Beacon Street, Suite 301

 Boston, MA 02108
WHO: Human Rights Campaign and BAGLY
 

MLK Day of Service in Chicago

On Saturday January 18, HRC Chicago and the Broadway Youth Center are partnering on a service activity for MLK Day of Service. Activities include assembling donated toiletries, winter accessories, and other items into care bags for LGBT homeless youth.

WHAT: MLK Day of Service in Chicago

WHEN: Saturday, January 18

            1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Sidetrack

            3349 N. Halsted Street

            Chicago, IL 60657

WHO: Human Rights Campaign and Broadway Youth Center
 

MLK Day of Service in Cincinnati

On Monday, January 20, HRC Cincinnati and the Lighthouse Sheakley Center for Youth are partnering on a service activity for MLK Day of Service. Activities include organizing donated toiletries into hygiene kits, cleaning the Lighthouse Sheakley Center for Youth, and serving lunch to homeless and at-risk youth.

WHAT: MLK Day of Service in Cincinnati

WHEN: Monday, January 20

            9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Lighthouse Sheakley Center for Youth

2522 Highland Ave.

Cincinnati, OH 45219
WHO: Human Rights Campaign and Lighthouse Youth Services
 

MLK Day of Service in Cleveland

On Monday, January 20, HRC Cleveland and The AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland are partnering on a service activity for MLK Day of Service. Activities include organizing donated clothes, toiletries, and other items and providing customer service to youth looking for needed items.

WHAT: MLK Day of Service in Cleveland

WHEN: Monday, January 20

            12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

WHERE: The AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland

            4700 Prospect Avenue

Cleveland, OH 44103

WHO: HRC and The AIDS Taskforce of Cleveland

MLK Day of Service in Houston

On Monday, January 20, HRC Houston, Montrose Grace Place, and Grace Lutheran Church are partnering on a service activity for MLK Day of Service. Activities include assembling donated toiletries, winter accessories, and other items into care bags for LGBT homeless youth; organizing the clothes closet and food pantry; and cleaning the outside areas and youth room.

WHAT: MLK Day of Service in Houston

WHEN: Monday, January 20

9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

WHERE: The Montrose Center,

2515 Waugh Dr.

Houston, TX 77006
WHO: Human Rights Campaign, the Montrose Center, and Grace Lutheran Church

MLK Day of Service in Los Angeles

On Monday, January 20, HRC Los Angeles and AIDS Project Los Angeles are partnering on a service project for MLK Day of Service. Activities include assembling donated toiletries, winter accessories, and other items into care bags for LGBT homeless youth.

WHAT: MLK Day of Service in Los Angeles

WHEN: Monday, January 20^th

8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

WHERE: Lambda Legal

 4221 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 280

 Los Angeles, CA 90010

WHO: Human Rights Campaign and AIDS Project Los Angeles
 

MLK Day of Service in New Orleans

On Monday, January 20, HRC New Orleans and Covenant House are partnering on a service project for MLK Day of Service. Activities include assembling donated toiletries, winter accessories, and other items into care bags for LGBT homeless youth.

WHAT: MLK Day of Service in New Orleans

WHEN: Contact organizer for more information.

WHERE: Contact organizer for more information.
WHO: Human Rights Campaign and Covenant House
 

MLK Day of Service in New York

On Thursday, January 16, HRC New York and the Hetrick-Martin Institute are partnering on a service project for MLK Day of Service. Activities include assembling donated toiletries, winter accessories, and other items into care bags for LGBT homeless youth.

WHAT: MLK Day of Service in New York

WHEN: Thursday, January 16

3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Hetrick-Martin Institute

 2 Astor Place

 New York, NY 10003
WHO: Human Rights Campaign, the Hetrick-Martin Institute, and The Church of St. Luke in the Fields

MLK Day of Service in Orange County

On Monday, January 20, HRC Orange County, Long Beach, Palm Springs and Casa Youth Center will be partnering on a service activity for MLK Day of Service. Activities include transporting donated toiletries, clothing, and other items to Casa Youth Shelter.

WHAT: MLK Day of Service in Orange County

WHEN: Contact organizer for more information.

WHERE: Contact organizer for more information.
WHO: Human Rights Campaign and Casa Youth Shelter

MLK Day of Service in Phoenix

On Monday, January 20, HRC Phoenix and Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development are partnering on a service activity for MLK Day of Service. Activities include organizing donated clothing, toiletries, and other items; sorting items into Tumbleweed’s storage facilities; and beautifying their Casa de Sueños youth home.

WHAT: MLK Day of Service in Phoenix

WHEN: Monday, January 20

9:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development, Donation Center

1725 West Mountain View Road

 Phoenix, AZ 85021
WHO: Human Rights Campaign and Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development

MLK Day of Service in Portland

On Monday, January 20, HRC Portland, SMYRC, Q Center, and Triple Point are partnering on a service activity for MLK Day of Service. Activities include assembling donated toiletries, winter accessories, and other items into care bags for LGBT homeless youth and assisting in minor renovation projects.

WHAT: MLK Day of Service in Portland

WHEN: Monday, January 20

8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

WHERE: Q Center

 4115 N. Mississippi Ave.

Portland, OR 97217

WHO: Human Rights Campaign, SMYRC, and Q Center

WHEN: Monday, January 20

1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: SMYRC

 2450 NE Sandy Blvd, Suite 100

Portland, OR 97232

WHO: Human Rights Campaign, SMYRC, and Q Center

MLK Day of Service in San Antonio

On Saturday, January 18, HRC San Antonio and Roy Maas’ Youth Alternatives are partnering on a service activity for MLK Day of Service. Activities include collecting and assembling donated toiletries, winter accessories, and other items into care bags for LGBT homeless youth.

WHAT: MLK Day of Service in San Antonio

WHO: Human Rights Campaign and Roy Maas’ Youth Alternatives

MLK Day of Service in San Diego

On Sunday, January 19, HRC San Diego and San Diego Youth Services are partnering on a service activity for MLK Day of Service. Activities include and assembling donated toiletries, winter accessories, and other items into care bags for LGBT homeless youth.

WHAT: MLK Day of Service in San Diego

WHEN: Sunday, January 19

 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Hess Brewery

3158 Grimm St.
San Diego, CA 92104

WHO: Human Rights Campaign and San Diego Youth Services

MLK Day of Service in San Francisco

On Monday, January 20, HRC San Francisco and Larkin Street Youth Services are partnering on a service activity for MLK Day of Service. Activities include transporting donated items to Larkin’s Center.

WHAT: MLK Day of Service in San Francisco

WHEN: Monday, January 20

Start time: 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: Larkin Street Youth Services

 1138 Sutter Street

 San Francisco, CA 94109
WHO: Human Rights Campaign and Larkin Street Youth Services

MLK Day of Service in South Florida

On Monday, January 20, HRC South Florida and SunServe are partnering on a service activity for MLK Day of Service. Activities include assembling donated toiletries, winter accessories, and other items into care bags for LGBT homeless youth.

WHAT: MLK Day of Service in South Florida

MLK Day of Service in the Twin Cities

On Monday, January 20, HRC Twin Cities and Avenues for Homeless Youth are partnering on a service activity for MLK Day of Service. Activities include repairs, painting, chores around the facility, and preparing a meal for the youth.

WHAT: MLK Day of Service in the Twin Cities

WHEN: Monday, January 20

12:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

WHERE: Avenues for Homeless Youth

1708 Oak Park Ave N

Minneapolis, MN 55411
WHO: Human Rights Campaign, Avenues for Homeless Youth, and The Bridge for Youth

MLK Day of Service in Washington, D.C.

On Monday, January 20, HRC Washington, D.C., Casa Ruby, Sasha Bruce, and The DC Center are partnering on a service activity for MLK Day of Service. Activities include assembling donated toiletries, winter accessories, and other items into care bags for LGBT homeless youth; organizing, painting, & cleaning the facilities; and assembling outreach kits for LGBT homeless youth.

WHAT: MLK Day of in Washington, D.C.

WHO: Human Rights Campaign, Casa Ruby, Sasha Bruce Youthwork, and The DC Center

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.