Just as they do every year on Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr. Day, Kaiser Permanente employees honored Dr. King’s commitment to community service by volunteering with local non-profit organizations. This year, Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic extended its MLK Day of Service for 58 employees who achieved more than 200 volunteer hours over five days.
Partnering with a variety of outreach organizations, such as DC Central Kitchen to offer multiple-day shifts, Kaiser Permanente volunteers worked alongside the culinary staff to cut, chop, peel, and prep food in their community kitchen as part of their mission to feed thousands in the Mid-Atlantic region each day. Similarly, Paul’s Place provided opportunities for volunteers to serve hot breakfast or lunch to the Southwest Baltimore community.
Some donated their time to Sharp Dressed Man, a nonprofit organization in Baltimore, MD, that works to repurpose business attire for men that are returning to the workforce from incarceration. Volunteers were tasked with several racks of clothing to sort, size, and put into inventory. Pathway Homes and Volunteer Fairfax brought volunteers (and family members) together in Virginia to assemble care kits with personal hygiene items for those in need.
Other staff members volunteered virtually with the following organizations:
- A Million Thanks to write letters and messages of appreciation and support for our military whether they are serving at home, abroad, or are recovering in hospitals.
- Operation Gratitude to hand-make paracord bracelets, accompanied by small personal notes for veterans and first responders.
- Letter Against Isolation to create and send letters/cards to seniors at care homes in the US and several other countries.
- Project Linus to hand-make no-sew fleece blankets for children in need.
Additionally, 17 of Kaiser Permanente medical centers across the DC, Baltimore and Northern Virginia regions offered to host donation drives for employees to drop-off critical items to support Helping Up Mission and Sharp Dressed Man. The list – and giving – goes on.
Kaiser Permanente would like to thank all its employees and community organizations who showed up to support the community for the annual MLK Day of Service.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.6 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to about.kp.org.
