Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest civil rights organization in the United States fighting for LGBT equality, will be holding the Martin Luther King, Jr (MLK) Day of Service across different cities in the country.

According to information published on its official website, MLK Day of Service events organised by HRC will be held in 23 cities across the country on 18 January 2016 (Monday), which includes cities such as Austin, New York, Los Angeles and San Diego.

HRC shares that through these MLK Day of Service events, it hopes to “transform Dr. King’s life and teachings into community action to help bring together people, strengthen communities and meet national challenges”.

HRC will also “work to ensure the safety and well-being of our LGBTQ youth” this year, it added.

MLK Day is an annual federal holiday in the United States to mark the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around King’s birthday on 15 January. King was a Baptist minister, activist, humanitarian and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement who was assassinated on 4 April 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. MLK Day was since observed annually since 1986, three years after then-President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into the books of the law.

This year’s campaign will be largely centered upon LGBTQ homeless youth, who, according to HRC, stand at approximately 40 percent of the total homeless youth population.

“Consequences of homeless youth in the United States, particularly for LGBT youth, range from issues in mental and physical health, sexual abuse and exploitation, chemical and alcohol dependency, educational attainment, to social stigma, discrimination and family rejection,” it added.

HRC is in the midst of collecting supplies and assembling care bags for these homeless youth. On Monday, it is expected that hundreds of volunteers will be gathering to help in making a difference to the LGBTQ community.

More information on these MLK Day of Service events can be found here.