ServMO has announced the recipients of the 2026 MLK Day of Service Mini-Grants, which support local organizations across Missouri in hosting volunteer projects that honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in January 2026.
“We’re grateful for the organizations across Missouri that are leading efforts to uplift their neighbors, expand volunteerism, and make a positive impact throughout our state,” said Michelle Hataway, Director of the Department of Economic Development. “At DED, we call that helping Missourians prosper.”
Through this funding, grantees received up to $1,000 to implement meaningful community service projects taking place during the month of January. Projects will engage volunteers in activities that strengthen communities and inspire civic action in the spirit of Dr. King’s message: “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve."
ServMO initially announced $3,000 in available funding. However, due to significant demand for this inaugural mini-grant opportunity, 9/11 Day generously contributed an additional $6,000 to support this National Day of Service. 9/11 Day operates MyGoodDeed, a free volunteer project registration platform that is being utilized by ServMO to support MLK grantees.
“ServMO is proud to bring Missourians together to connect with their neighbors and serve their communities through these mini-grants,” said Brittany Crabtree, ServMO Executive Director. “We’re grateful to 9/11 Day for joining ServMO in supporting these activities around the state in January 2026.”
2026 MLK Day of Service Mini-Grant Recipients
- Boys & Girls Club of Springfield
- The Boys & Girls Club of Springfield will engage youth in meaningful, service-learning activities designed to reinforce key themes of Dr. King's work.
- City of Columbia – Housing and Neighborhood Services Department
- The City of Columbia, Housing and Neighborhood Services Department, in partnership with Raquel Young, Love Your Block, and the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation, will engage youth and volunteers by hosting a menstrual supply packing event.
- Community Partnership of Southeast Missouri
- The Community Partnership of Southeast Missouri's YouthBuild of Cape Girardeau will install energy-saving materials in the homes of low-income residents.
- Food Outreach, Inc.
- Food Outreach Inc. will engage volunteers in their Saturday Cook and Pack event. Under the guidance of the Head and Assistant Chefs, volunteers will cook and pack meals for food insecure individuals within the community.
- Harry S. Truman Coordinating Council
- The Harry S. Truman Coordinating Council will engage volunteers in the creation of The Beloved Community Mural. The mural will depict a tree with roots representing Service, Empathy, Hope, and Action, showing that every act of giving fosters growth.
- Job Point
- Job Point’s YouthBuild program participants will demonstrate learned skills through a Cooking Matters course by providing lunch to veterans.
- LaLa Speaks Foundation
- LaLa Speaks Foundation will engage volunteers through the Community Unity Project, which focuses on collecting and assembling winter warmth kits.
- Lincoln University
- Lincoln University’s Prison Education Program (LUPEP) students will write “Dream Letters,” Business Plans for Reentry, and Messages to the Community in response to Dr. King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail.
- Office of State Public Defender
- The Missouri State Public Defender's (MSPD) Holistic Defense Services (HDS) Lobby Revitalization project will provide hygiene items, shelf stable snacks, and winter warming gear to clients.
- Youth Volunteer Corps
- Youth Volunteer Corps will engage volunteers by installing a little free library to increase underserved populations' access to reading materials.
About ServMO
The Missouri Community Service Commission, a bipartisan commission appointed by the Governor and administered by the Missouri Department of Economic Development, is now doing business as ServMO. Its mission is to strengthen Missouri communities through volunteerism and service. ServMO invests more than $10 million into Missouri communities annually.
For more information on ServMO, visit serv.mo.gov.
About 9/11 Day
The 9/11 Day is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the anniversary of September 11 into a day of unity, service, and remembrance. Through volunteerism and community engagement, 9/11 Day inspires millions of Americans to honor the lives lost and those who responded by performing acts of service that strengthen and bring communities together.
For more information about the 9/11 Day, visit 911day.org.
About AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans of all background to serve their country, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, and improve lives and communities. AmeriCorps members can serve in six key areas of their community - disaster services, education, economic opportunity, environmental stewardship, healthy futures, and veteran and military families.
For more information on AmeriCorps, visit americorps.gov.
About the Missouri Department of Economic Development
The Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) works to create an environment that encourages economic growth by supporting Missouri’s businesses and diverse industries, strengthening our communities, developing a talented and skilled workforce, and maintaining a high quality of life. As one team built around the customer and driven by data, DED aspires to be the best economic development department in the Midwest. Through its various initiatives, DED is helping create opportunities for Missourians to prosper.
For the latest updates on DED’s current or future programs and initiatives, visit DED’s website.