In honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., about 180 Willamette University students and staff devoted an afternoon to serving their community on Jan. 22.
Willamette launched its campuswide MLK Day of Service “Into the Streets” about 15 years ago. Through the university-led project, volunteers are dispatched to several sites in Salem to help those in need.
This year, students aided several organizations, such as the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation, Union Gospel Mission, Marion-Polk Food Share, Horses of Hope Oregon and Habitat for Humanity.
Their duties included cultivating gardens and outdoor space, sorting and cataloging educational materials, and building homes. To learn about other ways to volunteer, contact Community Service Learning.
"Into the Streets" was one of many events scheduled this month to celebrate Dr. King and his legacy. In addition to films, Convocations and an open mic night, Willamette will host keynote speaker Leonard Pitts Jr. on Feb. 5. Pitts, a syndicated columnist and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, will present "In A Single Garment of Destiny" at 7 p.m. Feb. 5 in Smith Auditorium.
