Michigan Journal

Issue date: 1/22/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Ledian Dibra There were over 400 volunteers from UM-D, Madonna and HFCC who volunteered at this year's MLK Community Service Day.Volunteers helped out at approximately 18 different locations.

Media Credit: Kristina Calvird Student volunteers with University of Michigan-Dearborn Chancellor Daniel Little.

Media Credit: Kristina Calvird Volunteers fill out sheets on their experience and reflect on the day's events and the meaning of their volunteer work.

The idea that the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr. was alive and well at the University of Michigan-Dearborn on Monday was something no one would contest. With a turnout of over 400 volunteers in its 15th year, it was the biggest MLK Community Service Day the campus has hosted to date.

Starting at 8:30 a.m., volunteers were dispersed throughout metro Detroit to do their part to honor the legacy of Dr. King by continuing his work. "It's a continuum," said Student Activities Office Supervisor Randy Dillard of the rising success of volunteer programs at UM-D. "Numbers are numbers, but the attitude was great. There was just a good vibe."

That vibe spread not only through UM-D, but to the some 18 other locations volunteers went to, including Alternatives for Girls, Gleaners Community Food Bank, Capuchin Soup Kitchen and Motor City Blight Busters. Volunteers came from UM-D, Madonna University and Henry Ford Community College. United Way for Southeastern Michigan also collaborated with the schools to plan the day's events.

In previous years, said Dillard, they would hit 200 students signing up near the date of the actual event. This year, however, they hit 200 before winter break even began. Dillard knew that this meant the turnout would be big, so he and the student leaders came up with additional ideas for students who wanted to help out. Every single volunteer spot was filled. "I was calling places to get students placed over the weekend," Dillard said. "We had to add projects because we filled all the volunteer spots."

"I was volunteering with churches and with the homeless," said HFCC student Mohamed Alnajjar. "Now I just want to go through the educational system." Alnajjar, a third year international law student, is from Iraq and said that his background makes him realize how important Dr. King's message is. He spent his day at UM-D making fleece blankets for the Children's Hospital in Detroit. "We tried to remember Martin Luther King and what he stood for today," he continued. "We need a Martin Luther King in Iraq."

For some students, it was just another day to help out in a long stint of volunteering. For others, it was their first time, but the sentiment remained the same. "It was a good experience. I liked it a lot," said senior psychology and political science major and first-time volunteer Wafa Ali. "I wanted to get involved earlier but stuff kept coming up."

"This seemed like a good cause," she added.

"Whenever I see an opportunity to volunteer, I try to do it," said UM-D freshman Sabrina Ali. Though it was Ali's first time volunteering with UM-D, she has given her time through other groups in the past. The secondary education, history and political science major said that all in all, it was a good experience. "I met a lot of new people," she said. "It was fun."

Both students spent their day at Gleaners Food Bank.

At around 1 p.m., students began trickling back in to the University Center's Kochoff Hall to hear a few speakers, reflect on and share their experiences and eat some lunch.

"This is the coolest thing I get to do all year," said an excited UM-D Chancellor Daniel Little addressing the volunteers. "Every single one of you have made a difference today, for others and for yourself."

HFCC President Gail Mee also spoke, asking groups from each school and organization to stand and be recognized. She was followed by Doug Plant from United Way for Southeastern Michigan, who is also a UM-D alum. "At United Way, we can throw a lot of money to solve these issues," Plant said. "But what we know is that what's going to drive change is civic engagement."

Afterwards, volunteers spoke with each other at their tables and reflected on their experiences. Then, Alicia Murria read her MLK day essay that won first place in HFCC's contest and a raffle was held, giving lucky winners books and Barnes and Noble gift cards.

Dillard said that he believed UM-D was at the forefront of the volunteerism movement. "I honestly thing that we're starting to lead in something," he said of volunteering at UM-D, citing that the Michigan Campus Compact, a group that works to help college groups with volunteer outings, chose UM-D's MLK Community Service Day over any other college campus's endeavors. "You're not going to save the world in four hours," Dillard continued. "But everyone didn't want to get up...but everyone did. That says a whole lot."

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