The Center for Service and Leadership and its subsidiary group Big Days of Service held their annual Service Day in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday.
The event presented many hands-on and in-person volunteer opportunities that students could sign up for to “continue Dr. King’s legacy through community engagement and by addressing the needs of the Tuscaloosa community,” according to the website.
Brooklyn Oestreich, a sophomore majoring in elementary education, attended her first service day in the fall volunteering with Arts ‘n Autism and enjoyed taking part in the CSL’s events.
“I think it’s a really cool experience to get outside of your own world for a little bit. We all get wrapped up in our own day-to-day lives,” Oestreich said. “It’s cool to see how just a couple hours of service can really impact somebody else and improve their life.”
Airale Willie, a senior majoring in electrical engineering, led volunteer work at The House Tuscaloosa, a literary center and used bookstore, and has always “had a heart” for volunteering at animal shelters and homeless shelters.
“There’s so many needs in Tuscaloosa, and we kind of get stuck in our bubble of living here at UA where it’s really nice, and we don’t really think about the outside community that houses us,” Willie said. “We fill a lot of space here, so it’s only right to give back to our community and show them that we’re thankful for having us here.”
Volunteers were provided with breakfast and lunch as well as transportation to and from the sites. These service days also act as Greek point opportunities but the MLK Day of Service was open to any UA students and faculty members who wanted to help one of eight nonprofit organizations.
Kennedy Jackson, a freshman majoring in nursing, said she loves seeing a difference in the areas she contributes to and has come to multiple service days, previously volunteering with West Alabama Food Bank.
Jackson partnered with Temporary Emergency Services for the day and enjoyed helping, meeting new people and finding fulfillment from “making an impact on a family or a single person.”
Allison Pope, a first-year graduate student in American and library studies, is an assistant team leader and social media contributor for Big Days of Service and has attended service days since her freshman year of undergraduate.
Pope volunteered with the YMCA in Tuscaloosa, helping the nonprofit move into a new space by cleaning up and moving materials. She said she encourages students not to be afraid to sign up to volunteer.
“There’s so many needs in Tuscaloosa, and we kind of get stuck in our bubble of living here at UA where it’s really nice, and we don’t really think about the outside community that houses us,” Willie said. “We fill a lot of space here, so it’s only right to give back to our community and show them that we’re thankful for having us here.”