Penn State students volunteer for MLK Day of Service to show ‘Change Continues with Us’
Penn State students had Monday off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but hundreds still made their way through the snow and freezing temperatures to work on service projects to honor MLK’s legacy.
University events to honor King’s life and legacy started before the actual holiday, with a slate of events with the theme “Change Continues with Us.” The kickoff was the 50th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet at the Bryce Jordan Center last Wednesday.
On Monday morning, volunteers joined forces in the HUB-Robeson Center to support local and national nonprofits through the MLK Day of Service. Volunteers arrived at 8 a.m. and worked for four hours on various projects.
“I love to see that there are so many people, even though it is below 10 degrees right now,” Daria Foster, a member of Penn State’s NAACP chapter, said. “The fact that they said that it almost doubled from last year ... that’s awesome.”
Some of the volunteers were back after attending the Day of Service in previous years, but some fresh faces showed up to help as well. Isaiah Maldonado was among the first-time participants, but said it won’t be his last time at the event.
“I think it’s a really good experience to give back to the community,” Maldonado said. “I’m definitely gonna come back. This is a great experience.”
Maldonado and Avery Hill — who was part of last year’s Day of Service— were part of the student volunteers. Both helped make three-tiered baby diaper cakes that will be handed out to parents at the Youth Service Bureau.
“I think it’s good to help. It’s good to do things that maybe the underprivileged aren’t able to afford for themselves, help them out, things like that, and also just have fun with it,” Hill said. “Obviously, making the cakes and stuff like that gives you a chance to make these little creative designs. It’s not just like, ‘Oh, we’re giving these things out.’ It’s things that people will look at and things people can cherish and really remember. It was just really good to be able to use my time to really help out and give back.”
The multiple activities of service ranged from making letters for veterans for the A Soldier’s Hands organization to filling plastic boxes with small gifts and toys to be delivered at hospitals through the Jared Box Project and packing 700 bags for the Jana Marie Foundation.
“You see the impact of the communities at Penn State and people’s willingness to serve and the projects that they’re impacting and the greater community, whether in State College or Centre County,” Logan Quinn, a graduate student advisor in the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement, said. “It’s just great to see all those partners and all the students come together for one service project. I interpret that as a way of giving back to lead change in your community and have the willingness to serve and provide for it.”
Even though the holiday might be over, the opportunity to attend the events is not.
On Tuesday, the MLK Commemoration Evening Celebration with Beverly Daniel Tatum, writer of “Can We Talk About Race?” and “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” will take place at 7 p.m. in the HUB. It will also be available on livestream.
On Wednesday, the Poetry, Prose & Performance MLK Tribute will be held at HUB-008 Lions Lair at 6 p.m.
And on Friday, the MLK Jr. Choral Tribute will take place at 7 p.m. at Eisenhower Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased at the Center of the Performing Arts at Penn State website.
For more information about Penn State’s events honoring MLK, visit www.psu.edu/news/campus-life/story/events-honoring-martin-luther-king-jr-be-held-penn-state-campuses.