AYLA Members, Friends, Family Return to In-Person Volunteering for 13th Annual MLK Day of Service

After two years of adjusting to virtual or limited in-person volunteer opportunities, AYLA was able to get back to serving the community in person for the 13th annual AYLA MLK Day of Service. More than 70 volunteers donated their time throughout the day, serving at various non-profit locations around Austin. The committee chairs, Meghan Kempf, David Holmes, and Jenna Malsbary, along with the help of Morgan Shell and Myra Dioquino, set up and led volunteer group shifts on January 16 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s memory and dedication to service.

AYLA members volunteered with the Austin Animal Shelter, which provides shelter to thousands of animals annually and is a great resource for those interested in adopting. They happily rolled up their sleeves and helped clean puppy kennels and do laundry. Members also took large dogs on walks and provided care and comfort to those smaller dog breeds (and cats!) needing more attention.

At The SAFE Alliance warehouse, eight AYLA members and two awesome teenagers gathered to help organize donations by type (i.e., clothing, toys, and toiletries) and to prepare donations for pickup by SAFE clients. The SAFE Alliance exists to stop abuse for everyone by serving the survivors of child abuse, sexual assault, trafficking, and domestic violence. The warehouse provides items for families in transition as they set up new homes.

For the first time, volunteers met to help local nonprofit Inside Books Project review book requests from people who are incarcerated and put book bundles together based on the requests.

Inside Books Project is an Austin-based community service volunteer organization that sends free books and educational materials to prisoners in Texas. Inside Books is the only books-to-prison- ers program in Texas, where over 120,000 people are incarcerated.

Inside Books Project works to promote reading, literacy, and education among incarcerated individuals and to educate the general public on issues of incarceration.

BookSpring welcomed AYLA back to help sort books as one of their most-needed volunteer activities. BookSpring builds early literacy in children and families through healthcare, education, and the community.

At Hilgers House, there were several different ways to donate, volunteer, and support local nonprofits. This year was our most successful donation year yet to support Flo Code by collecting feminine hygiene products and putting together packets that are distributed to those in need around Austin.

AYLA also supported the Central Texas Food Bank, the Austin

Area Urban League, and The Other Ones Foundation.

The MLK Day of Service committee appreciates everyone who took the time to help make this year’s Day of Service such a success.

It is always an honor to serve together with members of the Austin Bar Association, AYLA, local affiliate associations, friends, and family.