Students to honor MLK on day of service

Forty students will participate in a day of service organized by the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley, the American Democracy Project and the University of Northern Iowa’s Student Involvement and Activities Center Jan. 18.

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, student volunteers will dedicate their time at three different non-profit organizations: Catholic Worker House, Northeast Iowa Food Bank and Exceptional Persons, Inc. The volunteers’ day will start at 11 a.m. with registration and a free lunch in Maucker Union. They will then be brought to their work sites in Waterloo, and a wrap-up discussion will conclude the day.

Lauren Pelleymounter serves as the executive director of the Cedar Valley Volunteer Center and has been with the organization since 2008.

The Cedar Valley Volunteer Center is celebrating its 15th year of existence. They currently serve more than 50 non-profit organizations, with more than 200 up-to-date opportunities including one-time positions along with long-term opportunities. Last year alone, the CVVC placed more than 3,000 people in volunteer spots in the Cedar Valley area.

“The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley has seen a definite increase in volunteerism throughout our community in the past years,” Pelleymounter said. “We believe this is strongly due to people’s recognition regarding what it means to be engaged in their community and be an active citizen.  We also believe the support given following the devastating flooding and tornadoes has increased continued participation in volunteerism.”

According to www.mlkday.gov/, the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday was named a national holiday by Congress in 1994. It aims to correct national problems like poverty, illiteracy and the destruction of the environment.

In the Cedar Valley area, students will be involved in a variety of activities. At the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, 20 students meet the everyday needs of the food banks by arranging food on the shelves of the pantry and preparing weekend packs for students and seniors. 

Ten students at the Catholic Worker House will clean and reorganize the house including the cleaning of blinds, baseboard and potentially some painting. Finally, five volunteers will assist at the CHOICE program working with individuals and participating in activities and programming at Exceptional Persons, Inc., while the other five volunteers will assist at the EPI Bargain Store reorganizing shelves and checking in items.

“(EPI) is not involved in the planning of the upcoming MLK Day of Service,“ said Katie Slade, the communications and development director of EPI.

Interested individuals can contact the VCCV via email at volunteerUNI@vccv.org. For a complete listing of up-to-date opportunities call (319) 272-2087. A representative is also present on campus every Thursday during the academic year in the Student Involvement and Activities Center, upper level of Maucker Union, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 

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