Tulsa World: King Day is spent in service to others

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King Day is spent in service to others
RSU students and staff members help youths and older people in the annual school event.

Martin Luther King Jr.

By SARA PLUMMER World Staff Writer
Published: 1/20/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 1/20/2009 3:06 AM

CLAREMORE — Following President-elect Barack Obama's example, about 30 Rogers State University students and staff members spent Monday volunteering as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

Obama spent the day before his inauguration visiting wounded soldiers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and painting walls at the Sasha Bruce House, a shelter for homeless teenagers in Washington, D.C.

Locally, RSU officials were among those who answered his call to serve as a way to honor the slain civil rights leader.

The day is an annual tradition for the school. This year, students could clean up the playground area at the campus Child Development Center; paint, stuff envelopes and fold brochures at a Big Brothers Big Sisters office; or play games and interact with residents at the Claremore Veterans Center.

"It's absolutely appropriate," said B.J. Armstrong, coordinator of student activities at RSU. "That's what Dr. King embodied. If we can all help each other, it would be a better world."

RSU freshman Charity Weigant raked leaves at the Child Development Center.

"It feels good to help," she said. "It needs to be celebrated as more than just a three-day weekend."

Jessica Wilbourn, area director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma-Rogers County, said she remembers that the day of service started when she attended RSU.

"I'm so excited they're still doing it," she said. "That's what this day should be about — celebrating his (King's) life."

About 10 RSU students spent Monday morning stuffing envelopes, painting the center's porch and folding brochures, things the office's two staff members sometimes can't find time to do.

The day of service was a great opportunity to learn about King and his vision, said Misty Smith, director of student development.

"He was about serving his community, his country," she said. "It's great for students to be exposed to volunteering."

Jessica Heavin, who works in the Student Affairs Department at RSU, coordinated the volunteers at the Child Development Center.

"I think it's a great idea, to tie in connecting to the community with remembering Martin Luther King," Heavin said.

"I think the turnout was great. The kids were great. None of them were complaining about the wind or the cold."

Smith said this was the first year she has coordinated the day of service and didn't know what to expect.

"I was very pleased," she said. "We're going to get bigger next year. More volunteers and more going on."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Congress passed a resolution in 1994 urging that Martin Luther King Jr.

Day become a national day of service. The Corporation for National and Community Service led the e=ort.

More than 12,000 service projects were registered online at www.usaservice.org Monday, more than doubling last year’s record of 5,000 projects.

Participation has grown every year but was expected to mushroom this year after President-elect Barack Obama’s national call to service.

Source: MLKDay.org

Sara Plummer 581-8465
sara.plummer@tulsaworld.com By SARA PLUMMER World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment missy...m, /////// (1/20/2009 9:12:21 AM) Well isnt this nice.Yep thats right this is nice.Its a nice story about people who are appreciative of a man who most certainly is a legend and look would you?No one over here commenting on this black man who had a dream of the future and good things.now look,hmmmmmm.
	Report Comment Proud Muslim, Tulsa: Coolest place in the world (almost) (1/20/2009 8:22:18 PM) The light was in our eyes, Missy. We were too blinded to type. Thank you, Martin Luther King Jr., for all you have done for us. God bless you.
	Report Comment missy...m, /////// (1/20/2009 10:30:35 PM) Still only three comments on such a fine man who did so much, at the time Mr.King didnt recieve the kind of coverage that Ive seen lately,do you think it was the time thats different?Still you would think that more folks would be over here insted of always commenting on The new president since it was Martin Luther King Day.....sad
	Report Comment R U 4 Real?, Tent City (1/20/2009 10:52:39 PM) Thank You

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