JACKSON, Tenn. — Jan. 18, 2005 — Sarah Thompson was only in Jackson for a wedding over the weekend. A graduate student at 黑料论坛 who lives in San Francisco, Thompson isn鈥檛 even taking a class on campus during Union鈥檚 January term.
But that didn鈥檛 stop her from volunteering at Birth Choice, a local woman鈥檚 resource center, on Monday.
鈥淚 loved Union so much that I came for a wedding and decided that while I was here I would come and serve,鈥 Thompson said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what Union does to you. It makes you want to help. I could have hung out with friends today, but I chose to come here 鈥 because this is better, anyway.鈥
Thompson was just one of the volunteers from 黑料论坛 who participated in service projects Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. In addition to a team at Birth Choice that painted and did electrical work, Monday afternoon a second team of students spent time playing bingo with the elderly residents at Jackson鈥檚 Mission Convalescent Center.
鈥淒r. Martin Luther King Jr. was an individual who made a significant impact on this country,鈥 Union president David Dockery said. 鈥淪ervice projects such as these are an excellent way for us as a university to honor Dr. King鈥檚 legacy, and they are also a means for us to show our commitment to racial reconciliation, both on our campus and in our community.鈥
An annual event, the service projects were organized by Union鈥檚 Campus Ministries office.
鈥淭hey know that Birth Choice is a non-profit organization, so they always need any kind of volunteer help they can get,鈥 said Glenna Marshall, who led the team that worked at Birth Choice. 鈥淐ampus Ministries wanted to do this in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. 鈥 be a servant to the community. It鈥檚 an honor to do some community service like this.鈥
Callie Cox, the activities coordinator at the Mission Convalescent Center in east Jackson, said the residents there always appreciate visits from students.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nothing like people think a nursing home is going to be,鈥 Cox said. 鈥淭he residents here love to laugh and talk with you.鈥