Students can help feed the homeless during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
Student Affairs officials organized the philanthropic event so students could volunteer in the Oklahoma City community. From 10-11 a.m. Monday in the Great Hall in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center, students can help make 300 sandwiches for the Oklahoma City Homeless Alliance.
The Homeless Alliance works to end homelessness in Oklahoma City by operating housing programs, resource centers and day shelters that provide meals, showers and computer access to those in need in the community.
Dr. Amy Ayres, vice president of student affairs, said the event was designed with the idea that Martin Luther King Jr. Day should be a day of service to the community.
“MLK Day is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service,” she said. “At OCU, we have planned an opportunity for the university community to support the Homeless Alliance by making 300 sandwiches, as there are an average of 300 individuals served each day at the Day Shelter.”
Abby Bryan, acting sophomore, said it’s important to do an activity like this on Martin Luther King Jr. Day because it reflects his character.
“I think there is a significance in the type of person that he was. He was a very giving person,” Bryan said. “Also, it’s a day off, so why not give back and be doing something with your time?”
Bryan said organizations that help the homeless are special to her.
“I grew up doing a lot of food packaging in my town through church and volunteer groups, and I think it’s an important thing that people often overlook,” she said.
Bryan, along with Sydney Epstein, acting sophomore, and Allison Sloan, music theater sophomore, started Give Back OKC, a student organization that aims to provide care packages to the homeless.
“I hope that more people recognize this issue in our community and participate in things like this so they can help out,” she said.
Click here for more ways to volunteer with the Homeless Alliance.
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