FSU and WVU Partnering for Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others? – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 19, Fairmont State University and West Virginia University students are collaborating to fulfill a variety of non-profit agency needs in Fairmont.

On Monday, Jan. 19, which is the federal Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, the universities will officially be closed, but about 50 WVU students and 30 FSU students will gather at the Marion County Public Library. The students will divide into small groups to assist with needs at community non-profit organizations and agencies throughout Fairmont, including the Disability Action Center, United Way of Marion County, the Salvation Army, HOPE Inc., the Soup Opera, the Penny Pincher, Union Mission and Make Marion County Shine.

Many of the FSU student volunteers are from the Office of Residence Life and Student Government.

“As part of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, we are all asked to serve our neighbors and communities; the national holiday is intended to be a day ‘on’ and not a day ‘off,’ ” said Amy Drvar, FSU Civic Engagement Coordinator. “This is a great opportunity for us to give back to the Fairmont community and to remind us that service should not be just one day a year. We would like to thank the Marion County Public Library for opening on Monday to serve as our home base for this service project.”

For more information about the project and how to help, contact Amy Drvar in the FSU Office of Civic Engagement at (304) 367-4644 or e-mail amy.drvar@fairmontstate.edu or Andrew Carter of the WVU Center for Service Learning at Andrew.carter@mail.wvu.edu. For more information about Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to Serve, visit http://mlkday.gov/.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is the federal agency that leads the annual MLK Day of Service, working with the King Center in Atlanta and thousands of nonprofit groups, faith-based organizations and schools and businesses nationwide.

These projects include delivering meals, refurbishing schools and community centers, collecting food and clothing, signing up mentors, reading to children, promoting nonviolence and more.

The MLK Day of Service shines a spotlight on service as a powerful force to bridge economic and social divides – today and throughout the year. National Days of Service provide each of us with an opportunity to join neighbors and local leaders to tackle community challenges and strengthen the nation.

Martin Luther King Jr.Office of Community EngagementAmy Drvar