More than 130 students spent Martin Luther King Jr. Day volunteering for community organizations throughout the city including local elementary schools, the Holy Family Shelter, and Groundwork Indy.
"I participated in MLK day of service because I have been given so much love and support all of my life, so I wanted to give back in some way," Maggie Verhiley, a sophomore studying nursing, said.
Along with the act of service, the day included a speaker and reflection period to help students understand and engage in the social justice issues Dr. King fought for including civil rights and income inequality.
Before going out for their service projects, guest speaker Lashawnda Crowe Storm spoke to the students about The Lynch Quilts Project, a community-based effort that examines the history and ramifications of racial violence in the United States of America through the textile tradition of quilting.
A group of 20 went to James Whitcomb Riley School 43 to prepare a space for a food pantry to provide the neighborhood with more access to food.
“As expected, the students from Marian University on their day of service knocked it out of the park—and the football field, too,” Agnes Shelton, parent involvement educator at School 43, said. “Once again, a hardworking, intelligent, gracious group of young people. Thank you so much!”
Under the direction of Jeanne Hidalgo, campus minister of service and social justice, the university started the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service in 2012 with 40 students. Since, other campus groups have gotten involved too and the number has grown each year with a record number participating in 2017.