Ralph Moore, who runs the annual MLK Job Fair on Chase Street, says this year's was the biggest ever -- in job-seekers and in volunteers.

Last year, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Self-Help and Service had 244 pre-registered job-seekers. This year, with the recession and massive job losses, that number reached 412, and 555 on Monday. 

Moore and the staff at St. Frances Academy Community Center, where the fair was held, had 125 volunteers to help them out. The free, full-day job fair featured a large number of employers from a variety of fields, though some who had committed to be there did not post. 

MLK Day is going to grow as a national day of service so keep the St. Frances jobs fair in mind for next year. If you can help a guy out -- with advice on finding a job, writing a resume, going for a job interview -- they can use your help. And companies willing to hire low-skill workers and ex-offenders trying to stay straight should keep it in mind. Besides Moore, you can contact Melissa LaFayette at (410)-539-5794 ext. 28 or email her at melissa.lafayette@sfacademy.org