The Collegio Pittsburg's student voice since 1916
Alyssa Tyler editor
On Jan. 17, dozens of volunteers found themselves braving the cold weather and coming to the Overman Student Center for the Inaugural Martin Luther King Day of Service.
Those of us who organized this event wanted to encourage those attending, especially our students, to consider the true reason many of us had to stay off from work and school,” Jon Bartlow, associate vice president and dean of students said. “In 1959, Dr. Martin Luther King said, make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of our country, and a finer world to live in. I’d like to thank that every one of us here this morning, as well as the dozens of others who will be volunteering throughout the community today are helping to make this a finer community and a finer world to live in.”
A sign up was sent to students, staff, and faculty of Pittsburg State earlier in December. From there the future volunteers could choose to go and do a variety of activities. First, volunteers came to the Crimson and Gold Ballrooms of the Overman Student Center to gather more information about their assignment, receive a free hat, and listen to opening remarks.
“I’m so glad that we were brave enough to venture out in this weather to honor the life and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King,” Deatrea Rose, associate Vice President for Inclusion and Belonging said. “And he has a million quotes that you could look up, but the one that I thought most fitting for today is this Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others? And I think that today’s day of service resonates so well with that quote, that we are going to go out and we are going to give a helping hand to those who need it the most. And I think it helps us to understand that we probably sit in a place of privilege because we have the ability to go out and help others at this time.”
Assistant Head Football Coach Tyrell Evertt spoke as well, focusing on not only using MLK Day as a reason to volunteer, but to instead do it every day.
“And that’s what we’re doing still to this day for Dr. Martin Luther King,” Evertt said. “We’re showing up every single day for him. Not just a day out of the year, one time out of the year, no, every single day. We’re living our lives for him. He wanted justice for all… We’re still constantly trying to be better every single day. Not as a society, but as human beings. We’re progressing every single day. And you can’t ever forget that. I tell guys all the time, ‘it’s bigger than you. It’s bigger than me.’ We’re all here to serve.”
Anthony Simpson, 1997 Pitt State alumni, played the saxophone and performed the Black National Anthem.
Volunteers were then sent on their way to fulfill their tasks. Volunteers went to the following locations. Family Resource Center, organizing, cleaning and hanging posters. Pittsburg Care and Rehabilitation Center, creating cards and tie-blankets. Pittsburg Community Learning Center, organizing, cleaning, and painting. Salvation Army, sort, store, and organize donations. Cleaning toys, totes, and warehouse. SEK Recycling, creating recycling bins, cutting, stenciling, and painting. SparkWheel, organizing items for Coat and Career Closet event. The Lords Diner, weekend packaging, preparing and assembling items for weekend packs. Wesley House, food pantry organization.
Those who organized the event have plans of the Inaugural MLK Day of Service becoming an annual event. For those interested in volunteering, more information can be found at their corresponding websites.