ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Winthrop University’s Day of Service on the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday can be broken down by the numbers.
But the numbers don’t tell the story about lessons that the students learned from helping others, said Laura Foster, program director for volunteer and community service with the Center for Career Development and Internships.
Since 2000, the university has reserved MLK Day as a day of celebration, remembrance and service with a campus-wide event sponsored by various departments and organizations.
Junior Maerilyn Palmer called the Jan. 20 event an eye-opening experience. “I got a chance to be among others who share the same vision and want to make a change,” Palmer said. “Also, I learned that service isn’t just on certain days but every day. Continue to give!”
Senior Brooke Frierson was assigned to the Charlotte Avenue YMCA and observed that it was fun to see children express their love for service.
Meanwhile, Junior Isaac Smith said he felt the day was very impactful. “Knowing that we take things for granted is sad but to see that the service we provided brought joy to these people really warms my heart,” he said.
Below is a snapshot of what happened on Jan. 20 with the help of 250+ students from Winthrop, York Technical and Clinton colleges, along with more than a dozen staff members. Nine agencies around Rock Hill were involved: Pathways Community Center, Adult Enrichment Center, Rock Hill Educational Community Garden, Tender Hearts Resale Store, Charlotte Ave. YMCA, Pilgrims’ Inn, Community Hospice Resale Store, A Place for Hope, and American Red Cross.
Projects completed:
60 – homeless served at Pathways
150 – snack bags made for the Pathways’ clients to take with them at the end of the day and dozens of Valentine’s Day cards made
1,611 – cans, water, nonperishable items collected for Pathways’ pantry
25 – activities for the elderly and special needs adults at the Adult Enrichment Center
1 – plot built at the Rock Hill Educational Community Garden
1 – plot planted with five special needs friends from the Adult Enrichment Center
6 – plots cleaned
60 – children engaged in games and MLK Day crafts at the Charlotte Ave. YMCA
5 – streets that now have drain signage
30 – students trained in “Red Cross Ready” disaster training
30 – disaster kits assembled
3 – plastic bag mats made
280 – snack bags made for agencies to give to their clients
View a photo album of the day’s activities and watch a recap video.
The community service event is coordinated by Winthrop’s MLK Committee, which includes members from the Center for Career Development and Internships, Student Activities, Residence Life, the Office of Diversity & Student Engagement, faculty and staff.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at longshawj@winthrop.edu or at 803/323-2404.
