Thursday, Jan. 20, MO Volunteers hosted their 15th annual Martin Luther King Day of Service event in the Elliott Student Union as part of the week-long MLK celebration on campus. At the event, students took part in a number of different volunteer opportunities, which included making colorful placemats for seniors in nursing homes, no-skid socks for nurses, dog and cat toys out of old t-shirts for local animal shelters and fleece blankets, scarves and buddy bags for homeless shelters and designing positive bookmarks for the library. The buddy bags were stuffed with warm socks and gloves.

 Kristie Brinkley, assistant director of student activities and volunteer services, helped organize the event. 

  “Doctor Martin Luther King was very about service and giving back,” Brinkley said. “We like to honor him in doing the same thing.”

  Students who attended the event were able to show off their creativity within the many stations. This aspect in particular appealed most to senior biology major Jake Mwamba.

  “It’s really interesting how creative people can be and how much they are willing to put time into their creativity to make an impact,” Mwamba said.

  While the MO Volunteers committee is overseen by Brinkley, the entirety of the event was planned by the students within the organization.

  Sophomore secondary english education major, Nolan Crain designed nearly all the projects included at this event. Crain said he has always been passionate about volunteering.

  “I really like volunteering,” Crain said. “I feel like it’s something that a lot of people — even if it’s something they don’t think they should — should do.”