MLK Day of Service Draws Hundreds of Volunteers
Volunteers tilled soil, planted seedlings, pulled weeds and rolled on paint around the Inland Valley on Monday for the University of La Verne’s annual Martin Luther King Day of Service.
By day’s end, organizers called the event a success, pointing to the hundreds of donated work hours, the impact on the community, and the learning experience for the workers.
“The 245 students, faculty, staff, alumni, community members, family members and board of trustees gave 1,225 hours of service in honor of Dr. King, which had a total economic impact of $28,175 to our nine community partners in the Inland Empire,” said Director of Civic and Community Engagement Marisol Morales.
Participants donning orange T-shirts gathered at Sneaky Park in the morning on Dr. King’s birthday, when much of the campus community had the day off. University of La Verne President Devorah Lieberman read several quotes from Dr. King to illustrate the importance of community service.
“We have learned to fly the air like birds and swim in the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of living together as brothers and sisters,” Lieberman read. “You represent what it means to live together as brothers and sisters, because that is one of our values: diversity and inclusivity.”
Groups climbed on buses after the gathering and headed for numerous work sites for the day. Dozens came to the Fairplex in Pomona to work in the gardens, while others handled painting and maintenance at Bright Horizons Group Home for Boys in Claremont. Volunteers cleaned and helped seniors at the Hillcrest housing community in La Verne.
Through the University’s Kern County campus, students, faculty and staff held a robotics demonstration for at-risk children in Bakersfield, and treated them to a free screening of the George Lopez robotics movie “Spare Parts.” It was a way to introduce children to career opportunities in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).
La Verne alumna Charlene Marie King ’87, approached the event’s theme of “sustainability” from the standpoint of carrying knowledge picked up from the day and using it in the future.
“I am inspired by seeing all the young people coming out and wanting to help,” she said.
University of La Verne Black Student Union President Bradlee Johnson said about 20 members of her organization turned up to volunteer. Johnson was assigned to help at David and Margaret Youth and Family Services in La Verne.
“The day means a lot to us,” Johnson said. “As BSU president, I try to get as many of our members to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as I can.”
While many of the volunteers were students, other members of the campus community also signed up to volunteer, including faculty.
“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to do service at a time when we’re celebrating the life’s work of a very admirable American leader,” said Al Clark, professor of humanities.
