Volunteerism evident in week of service events

"Everyone can be great because everyone can serve."

These words, spoken by Martin Luther King Jr., capture the theme of volunteerism and service of the King holiday.

The King family, the King foundation and the federal government have chosen to highlight the theme of service in their observation of the holiday, said Judi Curley, executive director of Volunteer Centre.

Service organizations such as Volunteer Centre and the AT&T Center for Service Leadership are organizing volunteer fairs and service projects in commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

"King's life was about service to people, and we can't lose sight of that," said Jacquie Wade, assistant director at the AT&T Center for Service Leadership.

Curley agreed King's message promoted service and quoted King's famous lines, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?"

"He never saw himself as a leader, but rather as a servant," Curley said. "Other people made him a leader."

King believed that, as a member of a community, service was a moral obligation, said Tom Poole, assistant vice provost for educational equity and instructor of African & African American Studies 146, (The Life and Thought of Martin Luther King Jr).

According to King's philosophy, "part of what it means to live in a community is to willfully and joyfully provide service to your neighbors," Poole said.

King provided and accepted service as a minister, Poole said. King was supported by volunteer organizations such as churches and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, he added.

Volunteer Centre hosts the Ann Cook Award presentation at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Nittany Lion Inn, 200 W. Park Ave., and the community volunteer fair from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at the Nittany Mall. The Volunteer Centre has a standing committee at the University that works from Fall Semester through Spring Semester to prepare for the holiday, Curley said.

The AT&T Center for Service Leadership has organized a volunteer fair from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow in the HUB Ballroom and three service projects. The State College Area Food Bank Drive occurs from noon to 4 p.m. today at the Food Bank.

The Mid-State Literacy Council volunteer projects are from noon to 4 p.m. today, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Penn State Housing volunteer projects are from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. today, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, and 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday.