Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service kicks off Monday morning, Jan. 19, with a rally in the West Ballroom of the Husky Union Building.

But organizers are still looking for volunteers. So far, about 565 members of the UW community have registered to help with 66 projects at 60 nonprofit organizations. In 2008, about 1,200 volunteers pitched in.

"This year's MLK Day comes at a time when a lot of nonprofits are facing some serious economic pressures, and could truly benefit from help," said Matt Wojciakowski, community engagement coordinator at the Carlson Leadership & Public Service Center.

Some of this year's sites include the Washington Care Center, where volunteers will help tidy and personalize residents' rooms, and the Seattle Tilth Association, where volunteers will work on a demonstration garden. For more information on volunteering, visit the Day of Service Web site.

The Day of Service partners the University with United Way of King County. This year, President-elect Barack Obama is calling on all Americans to participate in a national day of service before the inauguration. In 1994, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, asking Americans to celebrate not by taking the day off but by donating a day of service to their communities.

Kay Balston, an academic counselor at the Undergraduate Advising Center, looks forward to serving on a horticulture project. Last year, she and eight others in the office where she works helped residents of Hilltop House, an apartment building for low-income seniors, clean and straighten.

"They're lovely people, wonderful people," Balston said. "I'm a very lucky person," she added. "I have a comfortable life, and work in a wonderful place. I think it's important to give back to the community. The Day of Service is also a nice way for UW employees and students to come together in a different way."

The kick-off rally, which begins at 8 a.m., includes a light breakfast for volunteers before they leave for work sites. Day of Service registration closes Jan 15, but volunteers who show up at the kick-off will be assigned to projects, Wojciakowski said.

The UW is United Way's sole partner in the Day of Service. Sponsors include the UW Alumni Association and the Student Activities & Union Facilities.

For a UW Day of Service film featuring 2008 participants working at an assortment of sites, go to the Carlson Center Web site.