From 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 16, volunteers from the Pflugerville and Round Rock areas honored Martin Luther King Jr. with several projects to benefit their communities.

About 12 volunteers spent the morning hours planting trees at Wells Point Park, 800 S. Heatherwilde Blvd., in conjunction with Discover Green Environmental Leaders, a local nonprofit.

Discover Green founder and project leader Matthew Evans said the organization has become a support group for the city's Parks and Recreation Department.

"We chose this project because there was a need to plant some larger shade trees for the soccer fields," Evans said.

A few of the volunteers are members of the Sierra Student Coalition chapter at Pflugerville High School, a coalition of students that works to protect the environment.

In addition to planting trees, Discover Green volunteers also spent time mulching and weeding around trees at Pecan Park and at the Pflugerville Animal Shelter.

Just miles away in Round Rock, volunteers recognized National Day of Service by helping restore the creek at Shirley McDonald Park, helping complete a tile mural for display at Callison Elementary, making seed balls for local parks and hand-sewing pillows for Elderhaven Senior Day care at Seton Williamson.

Round Rock volunteers were of all ages and backgrounds, and included several Round Rock ISD students who opted to spend their day off from school giving back to their community.

The Round Rock-based projects were part of the 2012 United Way of Williamson County MLK Day of Service, which included seven total projects spanning four cities and consisting of more than 200 volunteers.