By Annie Grow
As the nation celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, students will have the opportunity to participate in six different service projects on Monday, during the third annual Community Outreach Day, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Headstart, Humanitarian Aid, Environmental Service, Assisted Living Centers, Welfare Square and the Provo Teen Center will sponsor the service projects.
Community Outreach Day will include a free breakfast and a small devotional while participants register in the ballroom of the WSC. Alisha Pixton, a member of the Black Student Union, will speak at the devotional.
“I am really excited about Martin Luther King Day. This is a very unique opportunity because it is all encompassing in its variety of service. We have something for everyone,” said Mikail Tobin, program director of Community Outreach Day.
“Martin Luther King, Jr. is one of my heroes. At a crucial time in our history, King”s leadership exemplified one of the highest of the Christ-like ideals,” said Frank Fox, history department chair.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke these immortal words during his “I Have a Dream” speech on Aug. 28, 1963: “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: `We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”
Headstart will organize a project working with preschool-aged children who speak English as their second language, Tobin said. Volunteers will be helping the children participate in various activities.
The Humanitarian Aid project involves the Service to the World Organization in which kits will be assembled and sent to all parts of the world, Tobin said.
The Environmental Service project will include volunteers working with the BYU Grounds crew to do some heavy labor and help beautify campus.
The Assisted Living Centers project will place volunteers at a few of the elderly residence homes in the area, assisting the residents with anything they need.
“To-Do lists were sent around to all the patrons who could add anything to the list that they wanted done for them. These tasks range from baking cookies, to writing letters, to turning mattresses for those who cannot do it for themselves. The elderly are always in need of this type of companionship,” Tobin said.
For the Welfare Square project, BYUSA is hoping to participate with students in an annual celebration in Salt Lake in which volunteers feed the homeless.
“The Walk of Life” will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Carillon Bell Tower (East of the Marriott Center). Participants will carry a lighted candle as they walk to the WSC. The activity is free and all are invited to attend. Participants are asked to bring a candle to light the way.
In years past, there have been close to 500 volunteers helping with the service projects. BYUSA hopes to have well over 500 volunteers this year.
Pre-registration for the service projects is in 2330 WSC.
