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WINSTON-SALEM - While many were at home enjoying a day off, volunteers hit the ground running in Winston-Salem to honor a civil rights pioneer who challenged the country to service more than 40 years ago.

"The place out here is just unbelievable, you have trees that have actually grown up and that have actually taken over the entire cemetery," said Northwest Piedmont Service Corps director Reginald McCaskill in regards to Monday’s project – cleaning up and revitalizing the often-forgotten Odd Fellows Cemetery.

"A lot of places that need help [are] a lot of places that I got in trouble in,” said group member, Delano Davis II. “So, I feel like when I go back and help those places, I'm giving back; I'm giving back to the community and it feels good.”

With graves at Odd Fellows dating back to the early and mid 1800s and some sinking into the ground, this day of service couldn't have come at a better time.

"My ancestors before me were out here, they did their service and I just feel honored and proud to be a part of this historical Martin Luther King's Day," said group member, Darvez Hairston.

And much like King, many on hand Monday have a dream for their own community and the future of places in it, like the historic cemetery.

"My hopes and dreams is to see this as a grassy green knoll, with benches and wrought iron fences and trees and flower gardens that bloom all year around," said city council member D.D. Adams.

Days of service like the one Monday could make that happen.

The Northwest Piedmont Service Corps helps at-risk youth and young adults gain work experience and offers them educational opportunities. The group says they're the only active service corps in the state.