MLK Day of Service 2026
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, My Green Earth honored Dr. King's legacy of service by partnering with Habitat for Humanity of NW Metro Atlanta to host our annual MLK Day of Service. Over 45 volunteers from local companies, high schools, colleges, and the community set out to repurpose unused lots in a Mableton neighborhood with the goal of creating a sustainable food forest for the local community.
Our team of expert friends at Georgia Roof Advisors poured their passion for service into their community and tackled steep embankments, getting down-and-dirty to provide a path for the rest of our volunteers to clear out residual plants. They braved prickly bushes of blackberries and relieved trees of stressful English Ivy.
Volunteers of all ages learned about the invasive species in the area and worked to clear them using a variety of tools, as well as removing any trash. Even our youngest participants pitched in, weeding around the neighborhood entrance to give the community a fresh, welcoming look. While the children beautified the area, they forged new friendships and enjoyed a day of enriching outdoor work.
Dozens of collegiate fellows working with RCE Greater Atlanta joined us as they work to advance the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals by partnering with local businesses. The colleges represented spanned all throughout Metro Atlanta: Morehouse College, Spelman College, Emory University, Kennesaw State University, Georgia State University, Georgia Tech, and University of Georgia.
Interns and students from local high schools stepped into leadership roles as they guided a group of volunteers to reinforce the borders of the soon-flourishing food forest, marking clear borders to protect from traditional landscaping activities such as mowing. Materials were foraged on-site to create this simple yet effective barrier to protect fledgling saplings that will grow to yield baskets of fresh fruits for the community.
Edible fruit plants such as pawpaws and blueberries will replace invasive plants, giving this Habitat for Humanity neighborhood a sustainable source of fresh food for generations.