On Monday, we celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  This became a federal holiday when President Regan signed a bill in 1983.  It was then observed for the first time in 1986.

In 1994, this holiday transformed into a national day of community service.  This is not a day to just pause and reflect, but a day to act.  In Dr. King’s spirit of service to others, we need to make this more than just a single day of service.  I hope we all feel compelled to volunteer and try to contribute every day.

President-elect Obama is now calling on all Americans to make an ongoing commitment to our communities. This is a huge opportunity for us to confront many of the problems we face and come together in a shared purpose.  They have created a web site call Renew America Together where you can make commitments and share results with others.

I believe Pay4Rides could evolve into an incredible opening for all of us to give back.  By providing or accepting rides, we would be conserving our vital energy resources and helping our environment.  Many small sacrifices could have an enormous positive effect on our daily lives.  What do you think?

photo credit: Michael Verdi