ECU volunteers honor King with community action
Jan. 17, 2012
By Crystal Baity
ECU News Services
Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy could be seen in the helping hands of
East Carolina University students participating in a Day of Service
Monday.
The university’s Volunteer & Service-Learning Center sponsored and
organized the annual event encouraging students to work at non-profit
organizations in Greenville. A total of 120 students volunteered with
nine agencies, said Shawn Moore, community partner coordinator at VSLC.
The day supports ECU’s mission to be a national model for public service
and regional transformation.
College of Business instructor Abby Knight, another instructor and 12
graduate assistants picked The Salvation Army on Dickinson Avenue for
their service project.
“I think it’s great to turn the day into a day of action, rather than a
sale at the mall,” Knight said. “It’s significant because he spent his
life calling people to action. We’re putting that in motion.”
Devang Patel, 23, of Apex, is earning a master’s of business
administration degree and will attend medical school. He already
volunteers at two health clinics in Pitt County. Fellow graduate
assistants Heather Clayton, 25, of Salisbury and Aly Schillig, 23, of
Canton, Ohio gave Patel pointers in painting a wall. Clayton said
service is a part of the leadership and professional development
coursework they teach.
“We want to practice what we preach,” Clayton said. “We also want to get a feel for what our students are doing.”
Students re-painted yellow walls in the Family Store shades of blue,
green and tan. They replaced damaged ceiling tiles and scrubbed,
vacuumed and cleaned a planned teen center that will open in a former
restaurant in April. The remodeling is part of a larger effort in the
organization’s work with teenagers. The building also eventually may be
used as an overnight shelter for the homeless, said Mandi Stewart,
director of operations and public relations for The Salvation Army.
“What’s great about this is that the students are willing, able and
excited to be a part of our team and we’re just as excited to have them
here,” Stewart said.
Service learning is part of the college’s curriculum each semester. Last
fall business students and faculty worked at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl
Park in Scotland Neck. This spring they are working with the Humane
Society of Eastern Carolina. Instructors hope to show students by
example that community service doesn’t take too much time and is fun,
Knight said.
“It’s a great bonding experience,” she said.
Stewart said the ECU volunteers are a blessing.
“It’s a crucial factor to getting projects done around here,” Stewart said. “Manpower is needed every day.”
View full article at: http://www.ecu.edu/news/dayofservice112.cfm