Tomorrow, more than 300 students representing 25 student organizations will work together in the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Day of Service, sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
Those involved in the service day plan to make minor repairs and renovations to four local schools — McKinley High, Polk Elementary, University Terrace Elementary and Buchanan Elementary. They will be painting, landscaping and cleaning the schools.
Dorothy Kemp, a marketing sophomore and co-chair of the Day of Service Committee, said the Office of Multicultural Affairs has been working to diversify participation. Several new organizations will join this year’s service day, including the Philosophy Club, College Democrats, Spectrum Alliance and Rotaract.
“This year we reached out to more organizations, and more organizations are participating.” Kemp said.
The Office of Multicultural Affairs will provide most of the materials the volunteers will use.
Tammy Sam, a psychology and English senior and co-chair of the commemorative committee, said the Day of Service is her favorite part of the King celebration.
“Day of Service shows the community two things — that LSU cares and that students care to give their time,” Sam said.
Alexis Garner, a mass communication sophomore, belongs to the Union Programming Council’s Black Culture Committee, which will participate in the service day.
“Black Culture [Committee] feels it’s important to give back to the community — especially during a celebration such as Martin Luther King — because he’s the man that gave so much, and this is our way of giving back to the community,” Garner said.