Service projects around the United States worked to honor Martin Luther King Jr.'s work and dedication for our country. Here in Charleston, students and community members rose to the occasion and volunteered their day off to make a difference. Director of Civic Engagement and Volunteerism at Eastern Illinois University Beth Gillespie says she believes honoring Dr. King's legacy is important for everyone. "He was a man that had such tremendous impact, and was so brilliant and such a fierce advocate for ensuring that all of us had the same civil rights. It feels especially relevant today with everything that is going on in our country," Gillespie said. Eastern Illinois University students spent their day off by making gifts for sick children in hospitals, writing post cards to future students, and painting flower pots for nursing homes. Eastern graduate student Sheldon Aaron said he volunteered today to give back to his community. "With everything going on in the world, I think it's really important to promote compassion and I think that's what volunteering allows people to do is to give respect and compassion and kind of create equality within all of us in our own different lives," Aaron said. Community members also had the opportunity to get their hands dirty. Here at the Douglas Hart Nature Center, children and their parents are volunteering their time to prepare the plants for spring. Land Steward Director Marissa Grant said the nature center staff really appreciates the help they get from volunteers. "A lot of times we have cub scouts and they'll come out with their families and how fun is it that your parents have the day off and you have the day off and you guys are doing a service project together,†said Grant.
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