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�