The Lorain County Community College’s Service Learning Program received a grant from Ohio Campus Compact for a second year to host an MLK Day of Service. Service Learning, along with Student Life, and the Americorps volunteers at LCCC were able to mobilize around 150 volunteers to reflect upon the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and engage in community service.
Volunteers participated in multiple projects in the community and on the college campus. Community organizations who participated included; Big Brothers Big Sisters, Save our Children, Habitat for Humanity's Restore, Neighborhood House Association, Samuel L Felton Jr. Community Development Program, Second Harvest Food Bank, and Catholic Charities Lorain Family Center.
These community projects ranged from painting motivational quotes on walls, re-painting a room, and doing some dry walling, to reading MLK books to children, serving lunch to the needy, and mentoring a child for a day. On-campus activities included the Early College High School’s Freshman Class assembling Back Packs for a Second Harvest program, and Service Learning Nursing students providing free blood glucose and blood pressure readings to all.
As a final touch to the service projects, volunteers and the community were all welcomed to attend the MLK Day of Service Celebration in which we paused to remember MLK and his dream. “We Shall Overcome” was sung by Maneera Hitchens, “I Have a Dream” speech was passionately recited by Mark Taylor, and Councilman Marcus Madison spoke on how we today are accomplishing Dr. King’s dream. For more information on Service Learning or volunteering, click here.