Troy University will soon be celebrating the life and vision of a man who once said: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ ”
The Office of Service Learning and Civic Engagement is hosting a Martin Luther King Jr. week of service beginning Wednesday, Jan. 21, through Saturday, Jan. 24.
Jonathan Cellon, director of the office of service learning and civic engagement, said the service week allows students to get involved in the Troy community and recognize the work of Martin Luther King Jr.
“We want to give tribute and honor to Dr. King by giving back to our local community,” Cellon said.
“There are a lot of needs that need to be addressed, and this is a way for us to meet those needs.”
The week of events began Wednesday night with a memorial service to Martin Luther King Jr. at Sorrell Chapel at 6 p.m.
A volunteer fair will be held from 1-3 p.m. Thursday in the Trojan Center Ballrooms.
The fair will allow students to connect with 15 to 17 volunteer organizations in the Troy community. Students do not need to pre-register for the fair.
Eight volunteers are needed to assist in meal preparation for Campus Kitchens from 2:30-4:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Campus Kitchens is an organization that distributes unused food from Troy’s dining hall to families in need in the local community.
To participate in the meal preparation, pre-registration is required. The kitchen can fit only a certain number of people and will meet outside of Moe’s in the top of the dining hall, according to Cellon.
Head Start, a government-run preschool in Troy, is requesting 15 to 18 volunteers to read to children Friday from 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Another volunteer option for students is playing games with senior citizens at Noble Manor nursing home from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on Friday. Ten students are needed for this event.
Elizabeth Braizer, a senior mathematics major from Panama City, Florida, and president of Troy University’s Circle K International, said that these local volunteer opportunities give students insight into the past and future of the Troy community.
“Noble Manor gives students the opportunity to spend time with the residents who have so much wisdom,” Braizer said. “Head Start provides a chance to shape the lives of future leaders. Both are great ways to serve the community.”
Circle K is a service organization that works weekly with both Head Start and Noble Manor.
The Christian Love Center, located at 223 Segars St., is a child day care and development facility. Ten to 12 volunteers are needed to paint, organize, and clean from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday.
Campus Kitchens seeks eight volunteers for food delivery and cleaning from 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. on Friday. Students who were not a part of the packaging process are still encouraged to help with the delivery process.
Saturday events from 9 a.m. to noon include: Painting classrooms or buildings at the child advocacy center, which requires six volunteers; painting and cleaning at the Boys and Girls Club, which requires 15 volunteers; helping with the food bank at the Salvation Army, which needs six volunteers; and cleaning animal kennels and organizing at the Big Bend Animal Rescue, which needs 10-12 volunteers.
Sign-up for each event began Jan. 15 in Eldridge Hall Room 122.
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