Last year President Obama incorporated a day of service into his inaugural festivities - In 2010 this call to action is answered by millions of Americans.

Things you can do to Make A Difference:

1. Give your community a landscaping makeover.

Grab a group of friends and some garden tools and go to work. Check with your local parks and recreation department for information on which community parks might need your assistance. Or        contact your Keep America Beautiful affiliate to find a way to volunteer in your area.

2. Volunteer at your local food bank.

The effects of the economic recession - high unemployment rates, rampant home foreclosures - have forced one in five Americans to rely on food assistance programs for basic food needs. Use your Day to help support families in need by giving your time at a local food bank.

3. Spend the day with kids.

Investing your time with a child leaves can have a positive impact on their future. Take a few hours to volunteer with a local children's organization or use MLK Service Day as a starting point to become a mentor.

4. Use Your tech skills.

Serve.gov is calling on all web pros to be part of their 2010 MLK Day Technology Challenge. The plan is to connect schools with technology gurus who are willing to volunteer their time and talent to give back to schools that need it. If technology is your calling, this is the project for you. You can check out the full list of service ideas at Serve.gov: MLK Day Technology Challenge.

5. Join an existing project.

If the pressure of planning something on your own or making more than a one-day commitment is worrying you, no need to fret! There are thousands of existing projects already scheduled to take place across the country. You can easily hop on board with what someone else is already doing.

6. Don't stop with MLK Day.

Make community service part of your routine. Whether you have a few minutes, a few hours, or an entire day, you can use your free time to make a difference around you. Plus, it's never too early to start planning big for next year's MLK Day of Service. Begin brainstorming now on ways you can build your own Service Project for 2011. Serve.gov has some great ideas on how to get started and what you will need to pull off a successful and impacting service event.

This article was originally posted on Causecast.org
photo:  images.google.com