The idea behind Korean American Community Service Day is a simple one: Pick one day of the year when Korean Americans and their families and friends across the country volunteer in support of their local communities. Conceived by fellows in the Network of Korean-American Leaders, the second annual community service day is slated for Oct. 17.

“We recognized that Korean Americans are involved in their communities and wanted to bring it all together on one day to exemplify our capacity as civic leaders,” said Peggy Kauh, one of the event’s founders and organizers. “Community service work itself is rewarding, but it’s also a good way to meet new people and make new connections. Ideally, it’s a way [for participants] to reconnect with their communities and local organizations.”

Kauh said the event aims to create new and nurture existing relationships with organizations and nonprofits, as well as demonstrate the collective will of Korean Americans to become positive agents of change in society. The long-term goal, she said, is to make Korean American Community Service Day the largest day of community service organized by an Asian-American group.

Korean American Community Service Day was an idea borne from NetKAL’s community service competition in 2014. Based at the USC School of Social Work, NetKAL is a fellowship program that promotes civic and professional leadership among second- generation Korean Americans from a variety of professions. Fellows participate in a six-month program that provides participants with the tools they need to expand their professional networks while defining their own multifaceted role as a Korean-American leader.

At the inaugural community service day last year, volunteer events were held in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Atlanta. Approximately 230 people participated in activities that ranged from tutoring inner city kids and planting trees to preparing hot meals and revitalizing a neighborhood park. The projects benefitted more than 20 nonprofit organizations.

“This event is really open to anyone, not just Korean Americans. Anyone can come and volunteer, and anyone can elect an event to participate. Just reach out to us. That’s our simple model,” Kauh said.

Be it a few hours or for the entire day, participants are encouraged to sign up for existing events or suggest and lead new events in their cities. Some nonprofit partnerships for this year’s event include City Harvest, New York Cares, Korean American Family Service Center, Milal Mission, and Koreatown Youth and Community Center.

For more information on Korean American Community Service Day, visit www.kaserviceday.org.