Volunteer opportunities available for annual MLK Day of Service
The Saint Leo community of students, faculty, and staff is invited to celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, January 18, during the 26th annual MLK Day of Service. There will be no classes on this day. As a reminder, Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be either a work day or a service day for employees, but there will be volunteer opportunities for a “day on, not a day off.”
In addition to on-campus and off-campus university-coordinated service projects, participants are welcome to serve off-campus at their preferred organization or agency, also. Employees do not have to volunteer at the activities coordinated by the university.
Transportation will be provided to off-campus opportunities that are sponsored by Saint Leo. Volunteers are asked to wear closed-toed shoes with comfortable clothing, and to report to the SAB Green on January 18.
As a reminder, while volunteering all students, staff, and faculty are expected to follow Saint Leo University’s COVID-19 guidelines.
Employees who are participating in community service opportunities are expected to volunteer for a minimum of 4 hours to be compensated for the service day. Events can be combined to reach 4 hours. Group leaders are needed! Employees are needed to serve as group leaders from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to noon. Those interested may email brandee.greaves@saintleo.edu.
Registration begins Monday, January 11, and continues through Thursday, January 14. Sign up by using SignUp Genius at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050945adac2ca5f49-mlkday1.
All volunteers should confirm their service day attendance on EngageLeo. Reporting times and pertinent information will be sent out by Saturday, January 16.
Volunteer opportunities include:
On-Campus:
Day of Service assistance, 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Four volunteers are needed to assist with setting up, cleaning up, and providing information and help for the day of service event.
Restored Hope, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Donations are being accepted for this private, nonprofit ministry in Dade City, which assists the homeless, those on the verge of homelessness, and those in need in East Pasco County. Donations will be collected ONLY from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday, January 18, in the grassy area near the SAB/Saint Jude Chapel clock tower.
Items needed are: personal care items such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and toothbrushes (full- and travel-size items are needed); boxed cereal; children’s diapers; and nonperishable boxed food. No canned food items.
Peaceful Reflections Garden, 9 a.m. – noon: Volunteers will weed and plant at the Peaceful Reflections Garden by Saint Edward Hall.
Someone Cares Tampa Bay, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Volunteers will make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and provide 100 to 150 meals for Feeding Tampa Bay. Meals will be made on campus and delivered to a local shelter. Transportation will be provided for this event.
Bench cleaning, 9 – 11 a.m.: Volunteers will assist with cleaning benches in various areas on campus.
Upcycling and crocheting mats for the homeless, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Help recycle plastic “plarn” to crochet mats and “de-stress” balls for children. Materials will be provided to create sleeping mats under the direction of alumna Katie Huettel. Those with crocheting experience are preferred for this volunteer opportunity.
Campus beautification, 10 a.m. – noon: Volunteers will assist with various cleaning tasks around campus.
Off-campus
Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.: This will be a full day of volunteering to build an affordable home for a family in our county.
Gulfside Hospice Thrift Shoppe in Zephyrhills, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Assist in cleaning, stocking, and organizing the store. Proceeds from the store go directly to support patient-care costs and the operation of the Gulfside Centers for Hospice Care.
St. Anthony Catholic School, 10 a.m. – noon, TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 30-minute sessions: Four volunteers are needed for a virtual classroom “read-in” for our neighboring Catholic school in San Antonio, FL. NOTE: This event will be on TUESDAY, January 19. Volunteers will participate by Zoom from the Student Activities Building.
T-shirts and “swag” will be distributed to volunteers 2 – 4 p.m., Thursday, January 14, in the Student Activities Building, Room 111. If you cannot pick them up during this time, you may pick up a shirt from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., January 18.
For more information or to request accommodations, please email brandee.greaves@saintleo.edu.
Employee volunteer hours
As a reminder, employees who choose to perform community service activities, are expected to volunteer for a minimum of 4 hours to be compensated for the service day. Events can be combined to reach 4 hours.
Faculty and staff who are volunteering to do community service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, must enter “Community Volunteer Absence” hours in Workday. View How to enter Community Service Day volunteer hours in Workday >>
For questions related to entering time in Workday, please contact Benefits Coordinator Jay Derrico at (352) 588-8163 or jay.derrico@saintleo.edu.
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