Teresa Schuster/Contributing Writer
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., students can emulate his spirit of service by feeding the needy and preserving the environment.
This year marks FIU’s 10th annual MLK Day of Service, which will be held on Saturday, Jan. 18 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
The event aims to carry on the work of King by empowering communities through community service and providing students with the opportunity to interact with their local communities, according to Babyface Card, the event’s coordinator.
Students will have the choice between volunteering at FIU’s nature preserve, cleaning and serving food at Lotus House, a homeless shelter for women and children, and packing and distributing food at Feeding South Florida on Saturday.
Card hopes that by volunteering, students will be able to see and experience the positive impact of their work on the community.
“We do it to honor MLK Jr. and all the work that he did for marginalized groups and peoples, and to continue the work he used to do,” she said. “It’s a way to give back to the community we’re part of.”
This year, over 250 students are expected to participate in the event, a number Card said is higher than in previous years, despite no change in advertising the event. She attributes this to students’ own initiative.
“I think that students are looking for opportunities to be involved in the community outside of FIU,” said Card.
The MLK Day of Service is part of a series of events by FIU to commemorate this holiday and has been held by the Center for Leadership and Service since 1994.
“It has a very long legacy on this campus,” said Card. “It’s a really beautiful event for students to be a part of.”
The event is open to the public, and transportation will be provided from FIU’s MMC campus.
Students will receive community service hours, and can register for the event at go.fiu.edu/MLKDOS2020, or by scanning this QR code.
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