While Monday’s holiday will be in remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr., many students also plan to use the day as a day of service.
Into the Streets, a community service project, will kick off at 9 a.m. Monday in room N130 of the Business College Complex.
Participants will travel to several volunteer sites in the Lansing area and work with issues such as homelessness, hunger, domestic violence and community development. About 250 participants are expected.
Carlos Fuentes, assistant director for the Service Learning Center, serves as an adviser to the project’s committee.
In addition to providing human resources to Lansing-area nonprofit organizations, he said Into the Streets provides a positive experience for students.
“We want to expose students to service opportunities in the Greater Lansing area, provide opportunities to students who enjoy doing service and turn students on to service who never considered it before,” Fuentes said.
While Into the Streets also takes place in October of each year, this will be the third year the project will take place on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Fuentes said the cancellation of classes Monday has allowed students to participate in the day of service.
“There’s a saying that was used as a slogan for the day that said ‘it’s not a day off, it’s a day on,’ so we’re making it a day on,” he said. “It’s all within the spirit of MLK, because he was a true believer in service.
“So we’re taking advantage of the day and commemorating Dr. King’s legacy.”
Volunteer efforts at each of the sites always manage to bring smiles to people’s faces, Fuentes said.
Tasha Stetler, activities supervisor for the Burcham Hills Health Center, is no exception.
She said having Into the Streets volunteers allows the center to provide activities for the residents who normally require additional help.
Stetler said events such as a Las Vegas party, bingo games and special lunches have highlighted the day for Burcham Hills residents in the past.
“They really enjoy seeing young people, especially since lots of them were involved with MSU before,” she said.
And brightening people’s days is something elementary education junior Amanda Warman said she enjoys each time she participates. This will be her fifth time.
“It helps the community and people in need, and it also makes you feel good about yourself because you’re helping,” said Warman, who co-chairs the Into the Streets executive board.
Anyone interested in participating in Into the Streets can attend the opening ceremony Monday morning. Volunteer sites will be delegated on a first-come, first-serve basis.
For more information, e-mail streets@msu.edu.
