Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. taught us that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. As Trump and his allies prepare to attack our rights and divide our communities, we’re rising up with action and solidarity. This Inauguration Weekend, in the leadup to MLK Day, from Friday, January 17th through Monday, January 20th, Indivisible groups nationwide will unite for the Help Over Hate: MLK Weekend of Service.

This is our moment to stand in stark contrast to MAGA’s hate-filled Project 2025 agenda—to rally together to help the people who are most likely to be targeted under Trump’s extreme agenda, uplift our communities, and grow our movement. Each act of service, no matter how small, is a declaration of hope and a commitment to the fight ahead of us. Together, we’ll show that regardless of if you live in a red, blue, or purple state, we won’t give up or give in.  

CONTENTS

WHY PARTICIPATE?

HOW TO PLAN YOUR EVENT

STEP 1: CHOOSE YOUR IN-PERSON SERVICE ACTIVITY

STEP 2: REGISTER YOUR EVENT

STEP 3: RECRUIT PARTICIPANTS

LEVERAGE SOCIAL MEDIA

LOCAL MEDIA OUTREACH

ENGAGE YOUR GROUP AND THEIR NETWORKS

STEP 4: PREPARE YOUR MATERIALS

EVENT MATERIALS CHECKLIST

HOLDING YOUR WEEKEND OF SERVICE EVENT

AFTER YOUR EVENT

SUBMIT FOR REIMBURSEMENT

QUESTIONS?

WHY PARTICIPATE?

Service events aren’t just feel-good activities; they’re powerful tools for building community and defiance. Here’s why they matter:

STRENGTHEN OUR MOVEMENT

In-person service events provide an excellent opportunity to bring new and existing members into the fold. They create a welcoming space where people can meet like-minded individuals, forge relationships, and build solidarity. These events are also a great way to re-engage existing group members by focusing on shared values and collective action.

MAKE A TANGIBLE IMPACT

Every service project directly addresses community needs, from fighting hunger and supporting LGBTQ+ youth to cleaning up public spaces. These acts of kindness and solidarity show our neighbors that we care deeply about their well-being and are committed to standing together against injustice.

PROVIDE STARK CONTRAST

While MAGA Republicans push their hateful, divisive agenda, we’ll demonstrate the power of compassion and action. This weekend is an opportunity to highlight the difference between their extremism and our vision for a democracy that works for all of us.

HOW TO PLAN YOUR EVENT

STEP 1: CHOOSE YOUR IN-PERSON SERVICE ACTIVITY

Your service activity should reflect the unique needs of your community. Here are a few ideas to inspire you. Please note that while we will offer reimbursement for some event supplies, not all ideas listed here are eligible for reimbursement or permissible to spend on with distributed fundraising funds. Please see “Submit for Reimbursement” section below for more details:

• Immigrant Support: Promote legal aid services, assist a local immigrant resource center, or host a donation drive for families in need of essential supplies.
• LGBTQ+ Support: Host a clothing swap for trans youth, organize a fundraiser for a local LGBTQ+ advocacy group, or provide community support to those facing discrimination.
• Education: Paint and clean up schools, collect books to a book drive or host a tutoring event to support students in need.
• Food Security: Volunteer at a local food pantry, organize a food drive, or prepare meals for families in need.
• Housing Support: Partner with Habitat for Humanity or a local shelter to assist with building or repairing homes.
• Reproductive Healthcare: Organize a fundraiser for your local abortion clinic or abortion fund, or host a donation drive for contraceptives (e.g. condoms, Plan B, Opill)
• Health and Wellness: Create care packages for hospital workers, organize a blood drive, or distribute hygiene kits to unhoused neighbors.
• Environmental Action: Clean up parks, plant trees, or hold a recycling drive to beautify and protect your local environment.
• Civil Rights Education: Host a teach-in on civil rights history, voter empowerment, or the ongoing fight for racial justice.

These activities are not just about service—they’re about showing that our communities are resilient, united, and unwilling to back down in the face of hate and division.

STEP 2: REGISTER YOUR EVENT

Register your event on our Mobilize page to ensure maximum visibility. This will allow us to support your recruitment efforts through our national promotions and help people near you find your event. If you have your own Mobilize page (way to go!), please use the “Help Over Hate” tag for your event so we can find you!

STEP 3: RECRUIT PARTICIPANTS

Recruitment is key to a successful event. Here’s how to maximize turnout:

LEVERAGE SOCIAL MEDIA

Use platforms like Bluesky, Threads, Instagram, and Facebook to spread the word and promote your event – promoting your event on social media is an easy way to get more like-minded individuals to join you! Consider posting in local neighborhood Facebook or NextDoor groups. Post regularly leading up to the event and use hashtags like #HelpOverHate and #MLKWeekendofService to connect with a broader audience.  Our accounts will be monitoring those hashtags for photos and videos to share with our national audience, so be sure to post content on social media during and/or after your event. You never know which elected officials or reporters could be paying attention!

LOCAL MEDIA OUTREACH

 Let the local media know about your event! Advisories are emails you send to local reporters and TV stations to essentially invite them to cover your event. The format generally breaks down the event's topic, date, time, location, and spokespeople.

Need press support? If you have questions or need a press list from our team, email us at press@indivisible.org.

ENGAGE YOUR GROUP AND THEIR NETWORKS

Personally invite friends, family, and colleagues. Encourage your group members to do the same. Consider reconnecting with like-minded neighbors you met through the Neighbor2Neighbor program during the fall. Reach out to individuals who expressed interest in getting involved in your group but haven’t yet joined an event.

If your group is on EveryAction (superstars!), you can reach out to the national contacts in your region and invite them to this event as an introduction to your local group. If your group is not on EveryAction yet, reach out to your organizer to get set up!

STEP 4: PREPARE YOUR MATERIALS

Preparation is essential to hosting a successful event. Here are a few ideas to get you started — but build this out with members of your group to ensure you have everything you need to make the day a success.

EVENT MATERIALS CHECKLIST

• Flyers and posters to promote your event locally
• Sign-in sheets and pens to collect attendee information for follow-up (we think printed sign-in sheets are easier to use than digital sign-in sheets — but you could create a simple Google form with name, email address, and phone number and have a few laptops on hand for folks to sign in!)
• Any necessary supplies for your specific service activity (e.g., paint, brushes, food items)
• Name tags to help attendees connect
• Printed postcards with information about your group or how to get involved

HOLDING YOUR WEEKEND OF SERVICE EVENT

Hosting your event is where the magic happens. As attendees arrive, greet them warmly and set the tone with an introduction. Share why the event is happening and how it connects to Dr. King’s vision of justice and equality and the fight ahead. Emphasize that their participation is a vital part of standing against MAGA’s Project 2025 agenda and creating tangible change in the community.

Facilitate the service activity with clarity and enthusiasm. Encourage teamwork and interaction among participants to build a sense of connection. Use a sign-in sheet to capture contact information for everyone who attends, so you can keep them engaged in future events. And be sure to document your event with photos and social media posts!

As the event concludes, thank everyone for their efforts. Share closing remarks that inspire ongoing action and commitment and invite participants to stay connected with your group for the long haul. Distribute any materials about upcoming events or ways to stay involved — and get specific!

AFTER YOUR EVENT

After your event, send a heartfelt thank-you email to everyone who attended. Even better: get your group together to call through all your attendees to thank them. Highlight the impact of their contributions and share next steps for staying engaged. Provide links to upcoming events, sign-up forms, and social media channels so they can remain an active part of the movement. This is your chance to turn a one-time attendee into a group member ready to take action with your group in 2025 and beyond.

Be sure to send your photos to us at supportteam@indivisible.org or tag us on social:

• Facebook: indivisibleguide
• Bluesky: @indivisible.org
• Instagram: @indivisibleteam
• Threads: @indivisibleteam
• Mastodon: @indivisibleteam.mastodon.social
• TikTok: @indivisibleguide
• YouTube: @indivisibleteam
  

SUBMIT FOR REIMBURSEMENT

Indivisible is reimbursing groups up to $200 for certain event supplies for Weekend of Service events. 

You can apply for a reimbursement for your event costs using this application.
The reimbursement form will be open until January 31st, 2024, at 11:59 PM PST-- so make sure to get your receipts submitted by then!

You’ll have the option of being reimbursed personally or to your group’s distributed fundraising account.

Expenses that are eligible for reimbursement include:

• Printed promotional materials
• Printed materials for use at the event
• Event supplies such as tables, pens, paper
• Food and non-alcoholic drinks for event attendees

Expenses that are NOT eligible for reimbursement. (Please review rules here about whether the below expenses are allowed with Distributed Fundraising funds): 

• Donations of money to 501c3 or 501c4 organizations

• You can use Distributed Fundraising funds to donate directly to 501c3 or 501c4 organizations, but we cannot *reimburse these donations

• Donations of items to 501c3 or 501c4 organizations, or directly to individuals

• Also NOT permissible to use distributed fundraising funds to purchase these.

• Any merchandise or printed materials that contain messages or images supporting, or opposing, a candidate or political party.

• You can use Distributed Fundraising funds to purchase these, with pre-approval, but we cannot *reimburse these materials

• Items purchased from a political party or candidate's campaign
• Postcards, letters, and postage
• Alcohol and drugs
• Any expenses from an event that is coordinated or co-hosted with a political party, party officials, and any candidates running for office.

If you are uncertain whether an item is reimbursable, please reach out to your Indivisible organizer, or email supportteam@indivisible.org to confirm.

QUESTIONS?

If you have questions about planning your event, email us at supportteam@indivisible.org, and we’ll see how we can help!