News
HAVOC’s MLK, Jr. Day of Service unites students, community
By Alana Christopher '14
January 26, 2012
On Saturday, Jan. 21, over 100 students volunteered to work at local sites for one afternoon as part of HAVOC’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. HAVOC hosts this annual day of service, as well as its fall semester counterpart, Make a Difference Day, in an attempt to expose volunteers to many different areas of service and to draw students with limited experience into volunteering. All members of the student body were invited and encouraged to participate.
“Anyone can try a new area of service and see if they like it—after all, it is just for one day!” said Danielle Lashley ’13, director of HAVOC.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service generates a larger sense of camaraderie and unity within a large portion of the student body because it is on a much larger scale than HAVOC’s weekly volunteering trips into the community.
According to Lashley, “Boarding the bus in matching t-shirts, spending the same day out in the community bonds the student body.”
Groups of volunteers traveled to a number of HAVOC’s community partners, including Spring Farm Cares, Dunham Public Library, Lutheran Care, Salvation Army, Stone Presbyterian Church, Clare Bridge Clinton and the Johnson Park Center.
Bethany Campbell ’14 spent the afternoon at Rome Nursing Home, reading to residents who could no longer read themselves. “I went to the same nursing home for Make a Difference Day, and one of the residents recognized us! I think that made it all worthwhile.”
At Stone Presbyterian Church, Mattie Theobald ’14 and other volunteers cleaned and assisted with other tasks in the building, and students at Clare Bridge Clinton ate lunch with Alzheimer and dementia patients and interacted with the residents.
HAVOC’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service offers a wide range of volunteer activities and also provides the Hamilton campus with the opportunity to give back to the surrounding community.
Traditionally, HAVOC’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is held the weekend after classes start because of Hamilton’s academic schedule. However, because of the calendar changes for the 2012-2013 school year, students will not have classes on Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. HAVOC has made no decision on whether the new calendar will affect the event. However, there is the possibility that HAVOC’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service will take place on the actual holiday in the future.
“It would be very meaningful to spend the actual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day volunteering in the community,” stated Lashley.
Yet there are complications with changing the date of the event. Students could potentially be preparing for classes or returning to campus, which would limit the number of volunteers that could participate. Many of HAVOC’s volunteer partners are also closed on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to respect the holiday.
HAVOC values both the needs of the community as well as respecting Dr. King’s memory. Lashley commented that “no matter what day, the most important thing is that we are volunteering in emulation of Dr. King’s giving spirit.”
HAVOC offers various other volunteer opportunities throughout the semester in addition to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. To learn more information about how to volunteer in the community through HAVOC, email havoc@hamilton.edu.