So. Fla. volunteers give gift of giving on MLK holiday

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WSVN) -- Hundreds of helping hands across South Florida came together Saturday on this Martin Luther King, Jr. national day of service to help those in need.

A little Saturday rain in South Florida didn't put a damper on the national day of service. The team of helpers worked to beautify the school grounds at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary in Fort Lauderdale.

More than 300 volunteers were at the event. "It's good to give into your community and give back," said volunteer Jaimee Goode.

A team from Target built benches for the school gardens. Volunteer Nelson Burke said, "At Target we are all about service. So, service to our team, service to our guest, service to our community and coming out to schools is one of the ways we show to our community that we care about service. We are happy to be here." Volunteer Christine Simon added, "I don't even know how to explain the kind of feeling when you give back. It's like rewarding. It makes you feel good to just help."

Another big group braved the elements and spruced up the schools butterfly garden. "We ripped out the old plants, the old mulch, and we are going to be putting in butterfly friendly plants," said volunteer Jaimee Goode.

School facility services manager Willie Humphrey said, "This is going to mean a lot to the kids because these kids really don't get the opportunity to see a lot of this stuff inside their neighborhoods. So, to have it inside their schools it's going to make them feel like they are part of something."

School principal Marvis Ward brought the energy to keep the volunteer group excited about giving back. "When I woke up this morning, I looked out and saw that it was raining but I said, 'Hmm... We have to go to a plan b. We are going to make this rain into sweet Kool-Aid!" She adds, "That's what this day is all about. Also, that we as adults are being role models for our children who are our future," said Ward.

Care packages were also being prepped for soldiers overseas and homeless people in South Florida.

In addition to this local service project, the President, Vice President and their families, will be participating in projects across the Washington, D.C. area.

(Copyright 2013 by Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)