This year, the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) will celebrate 15 years of serving local community needs, and it’s exciting to be able to reflect on the program’s growth. The MRC was created to engage volunteers to strengthen public health and community resilience following the 2002 presidential State of the Union Address that called on Americans to volunteer in support of their country.

What started with just 42 community-based units that first year, the MRC is now almost 1,000 units strong with more than 200,000 volunteers — from youth to retirees — with medical, public health, emergency management, and other backgrounds. Check out the graphic below to see how MRC has grown and changed over the last 15 years.

On behalf of the MRC Program and Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, we would like to thank MRC volunteers for donating their skills and time year after year to support the health and safety of their communities.

In the spirit of service – and to help us kick off our 15th anniversary year – I encourage you to get involved in Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day of Service on January 16, 2017. MLK Day of Service celebrates the legacy of Dr. King by encouraging individuals to take action to meet the many needs of our communities.

MRC volunteers have supported MLK Day of Service over the years with activities such as supporting homeless shelters, tending community gardens, assisting Habitat for Humanity with the renovation of apartments for low income families, sharing community preparedness information, and supporting food/book drives. MLK Day is a great reminder that any of us can make a difference in our communities by serving just one day or throughout the year with a program like the MRC.

To find a volunteer opportunity near you, check out the MLK Day of Service site or contact your local MRC to ask how you may be able to serve.  Helping to meet the needs of your community is a great way to kick off 2017 and honor Dr. King’s legacy!