City of Columbia, MO
01/13/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/13/2026 10:16
City of Columbia offers service opportunities to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day
P.O. BOX 6015
COLUMBIA, MO 65205
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2026
CONTACT: Leigh Kottwitz
Neighborhood Services Manager
Housing and Neighborhood Services Department
573.874.7504
[email protected]
City of Columbia offers service opportunities to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day
(COLUMBIA, MO)- The City of Columbia has two opportunities for residents to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through volunteer service: a litter pickup event Saturday, Jan. 17, and Care Cupboard supply packing on Monday, Jan. 19.
A litter pickup will be held at 10 a.m. Jan. 17 at the Rainbow Softball Complex in Cosmo Park, 1615 Business Loop 70 W. Litter pickup locations include Cosmo Park, along the Business Loop, North Stadium, and Creasy Springs Road. Alternatively, groups may reach out for support of a litter cleanup specific to their group on a date convenient to them.
On Jan. 19, a packing party will be held at 10 a.m. at City Hall, 701 E. Broadway, to prepare supplies for Care Cupboards. The Care Cupboards, organized by resident Raquel Young, are a source of menstrual hygiene products in areas of need. The Care Cupboard project was selected for one of Missouri's 2026 MLK Day of Service Mini-grants, funded by ServMO and the nonprofit 9/11 Day. Positions for this event are limited and pre-registration is required.
Donations for the Care Cupboards are also being accepted. Items can be dropped off 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in the foyer of Housing & Neighborhood Services, 11 N. Seventh St. Donations can also be brought to the Packing Party on Jan. 19.
Youth in Action volunteers will be serving in the kitchen of Ronald McDonald House on MLK Day. Volunteers ages 12-15 will be working alongside Volunteer Programs staff to create and serve a meal for those staying at the facility. All positions for this activity have been filled.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is a national program to make it "a day on, not a day off" to honor Dr. King, who said, "Everybody can be great because everybody can serve."
For more information about the MLK Day of Service and other volunteer opportunities with the City, please contact the City's Volunteer Program at 573.874.7499 or [email protected].
A litter pickup will be held at 10 a.m. Jan. 17 at the Rainbow Softball Complex in Cosmo Park, 1615 Business Loop 70 W. Litter pickup locations include Cosmo Park, along the Business Loop, North Stadium, and Creasy Springs Road. Alternatively, groups may reach out for support of a litter cleanup specific to their group on a date convenient to them.
On Jan. 19, a packing party will be held at 10 a.m. at City Hall, 701 E. Broadway, to prepare supplies for Care Cupboards. The Care Cupboards, organized by resident Raquel Young, are a source of menstrual hygiene products in areas of need. The Care Cupboard project was selected for one of Missouri's 2026 MLK Day of Service Mini-grants, funded by ServMO and the nonprofit 9/11 Day. Positions for this event are limited and pre-registration is required.
Donations for the Care Cupboards are also being accepted. Items can be dropped off 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in the foyer of Housing & Neighborhood Services, 11 N. Seventh St. Donations can also be brought to the Packing Party on Jan. 19.
Youth in Action volunteers will be serving in the kitchen of Ronald McDonald House on MLK Day. Volunteers ages 12-15 will be working alongside Volunteer Programs staff to create and serve a meal for those staying at the facility. All positions for this activity have been filled.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is a national program to make it "a day on, not a day off" to honor Dr. King, who said, "Everybody can be great because everybody can serve."
For more information about the MLK Day of Service and other volunteer opportunities with the City, please contact the City's Volunteer Program at 573.874.7499 or [email protected].
City of Columbia Vision
Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.
City of Columbia Mission
To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.
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City of Columbia, MO published this content on January 13, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on January 13, 2026 at 16:16 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]