The 316 volunteers provided 908 hours of service to five different service projects.
Each site consisted of an educational component so that students could learn about
the organizations and people that they were serving, and how they can continue to
serve beyond MLK Day. 
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA — Members of the Winthrop University community spent the
Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Jan. 18 as a "day on" for service instead of a day off from classes and work.
Volunteers arrived for the Day of Service at the DiGiorgio Campus Center not knowing what project they would be completing. The volunteers were randomly distributed
among 37 student-led teams to accomplish five different service projects. Each team
of volunteers was given the goal of making an impact on poverty to emphasize King's
legacy of empowerment through service.
Before disembarking for the service projects, volunteers enjoyed a performance by
Winthrop's Vision of Prayze Gospel Choir and Skin Deep. They also received words of encouragement from President Dan Mahony who brought his family to volunteer alongside the students. York Technical and Clinton colleges also sent a handful of students.
The 316 volunteers provided 908 hours of service to five different service projects.
"Winthrop experienced the highest turnout ever this year for its MLK Day," said Imani Green, AmeriCorps VISTA for Volunteer and Community Service. "We received positive responses
from participants regarding changes to the service projects and replacing the speaker
with performances from student groups. It was also very special to see President Mahony
and his family there, participating alongside the students. We are all proud to have
been a part of such a great event to honor Dr. King."
Here is what they accomplished:
Global Hunger Project: The Charlotte group Stop Hunger Now organized a packaging parties, where volunteers
worked in assembly lines to package dehydrated foods in the West Center that will
then be shipped overseas for 29 cents a meal. Winthrop volunteers packaged more than
10,500 meals.
Local Hunger Project: Four different Rock Hill churches donated their kitchens for volunteers to prepare,
package and deliver warm meals to different people in need in the community. Combined,
they distributed 330 meals throughout the Rock Hill Community. (Freedom Temple Ministries,
St. John's United Methodist, First Associate Reformed Presbyterian and Winthrop University
Baptist Collegiate Ministry opened their doors for volunteers to use their kitchens
to prepare the meals. Meals were delivered to Renew Our Community, Willowbrook Crossing,
Pilgrims' Inn, Apartments at Highland Park, Green Street Plaza Apartments and Dream
Center).
Warming Project: Volunteers made 200 no-sew fleece scarves and tied them around downtown Rock Hill,
targeting areas in need. They attached notes to each scarf encouraging community members
to take a scarf to help keep warm during these cold winter months.
Senior Story Project: Volunteers went to Westminster Towers and the Adult Enrichment Center to interact
with seniors and adults with disabilities. They completed a "Living History" booklet
to help lead conversation, as well as engaged in a few simple art projects.
Pilgrims' Inn Beautification Project: Volunteers cleaned and organized the agency's Women and Children's Shelter, which
has a great community partner connection with Winthrop.
Each site consisted of an educational component so that students could learn about
the organizations and people that they were serving, and how they can continue to
serve beyond MLK Day.
At their service sites, participants sent photos of their groups in action via cell
phones to include in a slideshow that was shown at the DiGiorgio Campus Center during the wrap-up.
For more information on the service projects, contact Green at 803/323-2141.
