MLK Day 2013

For the fourth annual MLK Day of Service college students from nine Oregon colleges and universities showed their support for education by helping to remove one of the main barriers to literacy, access to books. 

The day started with a rally at Concordia University where students gathered for a short program. Students were welcomed to campus by Concordia University President Charles Schlimpert and thanked for serving by community partner Traci Rossi from the I Have a Dream Foundation. Traci shared a few words about how the students’ service would impact children and families and provide books to children who have never owned their own.

A short video shared interviews with students expressing why it’s important to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King, and performances by the Northwest Drum Corps and De La Salle North Catholic High School Choir got students inspired to serve.

After the rally, students began serving at sites in northeast Portland. The main volunteer project involved sorting, cleaning, repairing, and distributing gently used children’s books into Multnomah County. Many appreciated the opportunity to serve with students from different schools and the opportunity to celebrate and support something bigger than each of their individual campuses.

“Sometimes participating in simple tasks can be the most meaningful service of all and I think that's how many of the volunteers felt on MLK Day; their small impact will make a huge difference in the lives of many readers,” said Portland State University Project Leader Valerie Holdahl. “The opportunity to collaborate with nine colleges on this special day in honor of Dr. King will hopefully inspire others to get involved in their own communities. Participating in the MLK Day of Service is a perfect example of how small tasks done by hundreds of people can lead to big changes.”

In total

• 700 college students distributed 40,000 books into low-income homes, libraries, and schools in Multnomah County. 
  
• 50 Project Leaders managed volunteers at four sites: Concordia University, Faubion Elementary School, Blazers Boys and Girls Club, and SCRAP. 
  
• 37 community partners including nonprofit organizations, schools, teachers, and PTAs signed up to receive books. 
  
• Students’ volunteerism had an economic impact of over $46,182 in Multnomah County. Economic impact is calculated by the estimated value of volunteer time reported by the Independent Sector. 

Schools Who Participated

Concordia University, George Fox University, Lewis & Clark College, Portland Community College, Portland State University, Reed College, University of Portland, Warner Pacific College, and Western Oregon University. 

ABOUT 

The MLK Day of Service is a collaborative of Oregon colleges facilitated by ORCC. To honor and celebrate Dr. King's legacy, we unite our community to serve the places that we live, work, and study. Annually, it is the largest mobilization of college students in the country on MLK Day.  This event is made possible by a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service.

THANK YOU KIND BAR!

A BIG thank you to KIND Bar for coming out and supporting students "doing the KIND thing". 

---

Absolutely wonderful! I really loved coming together with all these students, who were all really eager to put aside themselves for a day in order to help others."
– MLK Day Student Participant, 2013