Students, organizations make a difference at MLK Read-In event
More than 68 children and 98 volunteers participated in the third annual "Martin Luther King Jr. Read-In" event at Wake Forest University, Jan. 21.
The Read-In promotes Dr. King's messages of service and literacy.
The 2012 theme was "Follow the Leader, Become a Leader."
WFU was this year's lead organizer.
Other partners included Winston-Salem State; HandsOn Northwest North Carolina; Salem College; Big Brothers, Big Sisters; My Sisters Keeper, Inc.; Wiley Middle School; Forest Park Elementary School, and Mutter D. Evans.
Evans, the emcee of the day's event, is the founder and chief organizer of the Annual Noon Hour Commemoration.
Amy Lytle, executive director with HandsOn Northwest North Carolina, said that the Read-In was created as an "intergenerational"event.
The Read-In featured 10 stations where pre-registered children learned about King's ideals by engaging in community service projects.
The children were paired with volunteers to help them travel to different stations.
Each child was given three books: two donated age-appropriate books and one new civil-rights themed book.
Salem College students had collected more than half of the 800 books donated.
In previous years, the children were given one age-appropriate book.
But this year, the organizers were able to give two books.
"We had no idea there was going to be such a huge [response] book donation," said Morgan Owen, a Neighboring VISTA.
Children who were enrolled in various programs including Big Brothers, Big Sisters and Forest Park Elementary School performed community service projects.
The projects included writing letters to U.S. troops and community mentors; creating Valentine's Day cards for clients of Meals On Wheels programs and local retirees; and making place mats, which included quotes by King.
The mats will be sent to homeless shelters in Winston-Salem.
At the healthy eating station, the children were instructed on healthy snacks, nutrition, and good eating habits.
The children also participated in a discussion about anti-bullying with Wiley Middle School students.
Zuo Reeves was one of the volunteers from WSSU.
Reeves is a junior mass communications major from Washington, D.C.
"It is important for WSSU students to give back at events like the Read-In," Reeves said.
"We are here to learn and volunteer and give back to the community that our school is located in, not giving back to the community is a crime."
The children were shown an animated version of a book written by King's older sister, Christine King Farris.
They also watched a video by Evans about her visit to the MLK Memorial Monument in Washington, D.C.
Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly
More thenewsargus News Articles
- Bennett College Loses Accreditation Despite Raising Sufficient Funds
- Smollett Investigation Continues To Be Unsolved and Difficult to Resolve
- Tea Talk w/ The News Argus: LaKeith Stevenson
- Brown administration makes history with school's first SGA inauguration
Recent thenewsargus News Articles
Discuss This Article
MOST POPULAR THENEWSARGUS
WSSU Rams Head Football Coach Relieved of His Duties By Elijah Richardson
Bennett College Loses Accreditation Despite Raising Sufficient Funds By Elijah Richardson
Smollett Investigation Continues To Be Unsolved and Difficult to Resolve By Elijah Richardson
Lady Rams look to reverse an abysmal 2014-2015 season By Demetrius Dillard
GET TOP STORIES DELIVERED WEEKLY
LATEST THENEWSARGUS
- Black Business
- WSSU Rams Head Football Coach Relieved of His Duties
- Controversial Wake Forest Tweet Sparks Outrage
- Bennett College Loses Accreditation Despite Raising Sufficient Funds
- Smollett Investigation Continues To Be Unsolved and Difficult to Resolve
- UREC Looks To Continue and Improve Student Engagement Through Physical...
- University Recreation To Hold Personal Training Pilot Study
FOLLOW OUR NEWSPAPER
RECENT THENEWSARGUS CLASSIFIEDS
OUTSIDE THE LINES
- Moving Resources For Military Families
- Historic Agreement Signed By Red Cross and Armed Forces
- Salonpas® Brand Stands the Test of Time
- Tips to “Yard Your Way” This Spring
- Upgraded Upstate Power Grid Will Deliver a Smarter,...
- A Story To Sing About
- The Gap in Gum Care: Why Caring For Your Teeth’s F...
- Top Tips for Signature Scents and Better-Smelling Laundry
- A Dog Trainer’s Top Tips to Support Pets Through Life S...
- Clear the Air of Indoor Pollutants This Spring
FROM AROUND THE WEB
- New Expo Showcases AI Innovation
- Self-Care and Mental Health Tips for Caregivers
- Adventure Awaits: Discover the Playset that Brings...
- Need Auto Glass Repair? Don’t Despair
- Pioneering Fast and Affordable Broadband for the Underserved
- 7 Reasons Renting an RV Should Be On Every Family’s S...
- Don’t Let Diabetes Shortchange Your Golden Years
- No Child is Forgotten By Marine Toys for Tots
- Sweeten Your Springtime Salads With Healthy Chilean Grapes
- Young Author Translates 4,000-Year-Old Text to Reveal...
COLLEGE PRESS RELEASES
- Guidenar Launches New Career Test for Gen Z
- GotIt! Education Offers MathGPT Free to All State & Community Colleges
- Shoff Promotions Comic Book & Sports Card Show
- Semiconductor Research Corp unveils 2024 Research Call, $13.8M Funding
- Charles River Associates Opens Second Scholarship Cycle, Expands to the UK