Utah Valley University Commemorates MLK by Providing Community Service

Students and staff of Utah Valley University (UVU) gathered at the UVU Center for Global and Intercultural Engagement on Jan. 17, 2023, for the first of six service projects taking place across campus in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

   

Students and staff of Utah Valley University (UVU) gathered at the UVU Center for Global and Intercultural Engagement on Jan. 17, 2023, for the first of six service projects taking place across campus in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Volunteers worked together to assemble birthday boxes for children living at South Valley Services, an organization that shelters families affected by domestic violence. Melanie Wolfe, a club ambassador who works with UVU’s Multicultural Student Council, helped organize the project.

“The birthday boxes have all of the things [children at South Valley Services] need to celebrate their birthdays,” Wolfe said. “It’s a little light of hope to be able to have a day about them.”

Volunteers filled several dozen boxes with birthday party supplies including party hats, toys, balloons, and birthday cake mix. Many of the participants gravitated towards writing and decorating the glittery birthday cards included with each box to encourage the child who receives it.

Wolfe said that the service opportunities UVU is hosting this week are designed to honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and his belief in serving people in your community.

“Dr. King really spoke for underrepresented communities, and I feel like we are targeting a vulnerable community by doing this,” Wolfe said. “Being able to support them helps us remember a lot of the things that King spoke for and fought for.”

Students, faculty, and staff can get involved with other service projects taking place on Wednesday and Thursday this week. Volunteers will receive a ticket for the MLK Service Lunch that will take place on Friday, Jan. 20.

Wednesday, Jan. 18

  • Quilts for Kids Service Project — 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Science Building (SB) Atrium
  • Days for Girls Service Project — 3-4 p.m., Center Stage
  • Stop the Bleed Training & Kits Service Project — 6:30-8 p.m., SB 139

 

Thursday, Jan. 19

  • Wildlife & Zoology Wildspace Clean-up Service Project — 3:30-6:30 p.m., TBA
  • Love Your Hair! Service Project — 6-9 p.m., Sorensen Center (SC) 213 A/B

 

Learn more about the 29th Annual MLK Commemoration Week and view the full event schedule at https://www.uvu.edu/inclusion/mlk/index.html.

 
 
 

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