The Service News Digest is a regular feature on the Serve.gov blog. In this series, we showcase articles that feature national service and Corporation for National and Community Service programs. This week, we're focusing on some of the great stories about the National Day of Service and the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service from around the nation.

A National Day of Service
Time for Kids, Jan. 22, 2013
On Saturday, January 19th, I headed to the Service Summit on the National Mall, in Washington, D.C., which was part of the National Day of Service. The National Day of Service is a nationwide effort to give back time in service to others in need. In all 50 states of the U.S., volunteers worked together with community service organizations on service projects. At the Service Summit on the National Mall, there were about 100 service organizations on hand conducting service projects, training volunteers and signing them up to help their causes during the upcoming year. Read more >>

Cape Volunteers build on King's legacy
Cape Code Times (Massachusetts), Jan. 22, 2013
AmeriCorps Cape Cod — with help from dozens of volunteers from other groups, including Habitat for Humanity and the Senior Service Corps — organized four volunteer events across the Cape, AmeriCorps volunteer Mike Sousa said. Read more >>

National Service Day in Red Hook focuses on Sandy cleanup
Queens Ledger (New York), Jan. 22, 2013
In honor of National Service Day, 123 volunteers were on site at Red Hook Recreation Center to help fix the facility that was damaged by Hurricane Sandy. In the morning, the number of volunteers jumped up by one as the mayor picked up a brush and helped paint the walls of the basement that was flooded in the storm. Read more >>

Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. through service
KWWL (Iowa), Jan. 21, 2013
AmeriCorps wanted to show kids how they can serve their community. "It builds confidence for them," said Kristin Norfolk, AmeriCorps."It builds a sense of connectiveness to their community." Read more >>

AmeriCorps members come to Oklahoma to serve
KOCO-TV (Oklahoma), Jan. 21, 2013
On this MLK Day, a group of AmeriCorps members from across the country are in Oklahoma City to serve the community. Its part of the Rebuilding Together week of service that kicked off on Monday. Read more >>

Days of service aim to get volunteers involved
USA Today (Virginia), Jan. 19, 2013
Ophelia Scott, 83, didn't hesitate to get involved in this weekend's national service initiatives. Scott slowly but steadily went door to door Saturday with dozens of others to talk about getting prepared for natural disasters and other emergencies, part of a local government service project. Read more >>

Inauguration weekend begins with Day of Service to honor Martin Luther King Jr.
Washington Post, Jan. 19, 2013
As they did four years ago, the Obamas called for Americans to join in the day of service traditionally associated with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday as part of the inaugural festivities. This year, the King holiday falls on Monday, the same day as the president's ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol. Read more >>

Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2013: Obama, Bidens participate in National Day of Service
CNN Wire, Jan. 19, 2013
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden participated in a National Day of Service on Saturday, joining what event organizers say are volunteers around the country in local service projects. First lady Michelle Obama and the vice president's wife, Jill Biden, also took part. Read more >>

Metro Detroiters give of themselves on National Day of Service
Detroit News (Michigan) Wire, Jan. 19, 2013
President Barack Obama will be inaugurated into his second term Monday, sharing the spotlight with the celebration of the life of Martin Luther King Jr. To honor the civil rights leader's legacy, the president has called for a National Day of Service, encouraging Americans across the country to volunteer and give back in their communities. It's a message many Metro Detroiters are embracing. Read more >>

Volunteers packed the D.C. Armory in Washington, DC, on Jan. 19, 2013, to participate in Dr. Martin Luther King Day of Service and National Day of Service activities. Participants assembled 100,000 care kits for Operation Gratitude and wrote letters to U.S. soldiers during the event. Watch this blog for more National Day of Service photos from around the nation.
 

President Obama encourages everyone to join him and the First Family for the National Day of Service on Saturday, Jan. 19 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. People all across the nation will be participating in service projects – watch the video and learn how you can participate in the event.
 

Continuing a tradition he started at his first inauguration in 2009, President Barack Obama is calling on Americans all across the country to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and participate in the National Day of Service on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013.
 

First Lady Michelle Obama lends her voice to encourage Americans to serve as part of the National Day of Service on Saturday, Jan. 19. Read on to watch the video, discover more about the First Family’s commitment to community service, and learn how you can join the effort.
 

On Jan. 21, 2013, our nation will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (MLK Day), a national holiday during which we honor the legacy of the civil rights leader Dr. King through a day of service and volunteering.