Editor’s Note: This event was recently shifted to an entirely virtual format. That being said, certain service activities may be altered.

On Jan. 19, The Office for Student Involvement (OSI) is hosting the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. The event will be taking place virtually, with many remote service opportunities being made available for the university community.

“We are trying to do different activities that we did before so that it doesn’t feel like the same event. It’s also part of African American celebration month, so it’s [included in that] calendar as well,”  Emily Bernas, graduate assistant in the leadership and volunteer center, said.

The MLK Jr. Day of Service aims to serve the local community and honor the legacy of the civil rights movement icon.

“I think the sole purpose of this event is to try and help as many people as we can,” Bernas said. “In the last one, we had a lot of hours logged, and lots of the items that were made we ended up donating. In total, we had 713 hours, and then we donated 24,000 items. I think it would be great if we could excel on that and beat what we did last time. But, [to be] a little more realistic, [we’re] just trying to help out as many organizations as we can, helping to teach students about the different opportunities that you can do.”

There are several different service projects for participants to engage in that can be found on GrizzOrgs, with detailed instructions for each. Some of the service projects that will be available for participants to partake in include making dog toys, crafting birthday and get-well cards for children facing illness, activity kits and bracelet making. Take-home options will be provided.

Providing service to the community is an excellent way to give back and find fulfillment in oneself. To quote MLK Jr., “Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve.”

“They gain a sense of belonging not only for themselves but for the community,” Daryl Blackburn, coordinator of Leadership and Service programs, said. “At the end of the day, you’re gaining that sense of service for yourself, for the community. You’re helping more than just one person — knowing the importance of giving back. Not only that, for this event specifically, they’re gaining the importance of knowing who Martin Luther King Jr. is and why we did this day in honor of him. Just because that was a passion of his, a sense of community, giving back and being involved. That is what we want everyone to get from this.”

No registration is required for this event.  For those looking for more information on future service events and the MLK Day of Service, visit GrizzOrgs.