As part of Sigma Lambda’s Service & Leadership Week, Millsaps students are spending the last week of October volunteering their time and talents at multiple charities in the Jackson community including Stewpot Ministries, The Good Samaritan Center, the Ronald McDonald House, Bethlehem Center, Mustard Seed and Habitat for Humanity, as well as collecting children’s books for a Reach Out and Read book drive.
“It is very cool in that we pick a different organization each day to send volunteers to,” said Cree Cantrell, a senior from Biloxi and a member of the service honorary Sigma Lambda. “In one week we are able to effectively reach out to over six service organizations in our area. This week shows the great dedication Millsaps students have towards bettering the community in which we live and study.”
Each day of the week was devoted to at least one community service project. On Monday, students volunteered at Stewpot Ministries at lunchtime serving food to homeless Jackson residents and at The Good Samaritan Center, a nonprofit social service organization devoted to caring for those in need, sorting, organizing, and distributing clothes and other necessary items.
Students volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House on Tuesday. The Ronald McDonald House is devoted to creating, finding and supporting programs that directly improve the health and well being of children and serves as a “home away from home” for families of seriously ill children who must travel to Jackson for medical care.
Students played with and tutored children in after school program on Wednesday at the Bethlehem Center in Jackson. Located in one of the poorest areas of Jackson, the Bethlehem Center aids low-income families by offering affordable childcare and provides a strong faith presence in the area.
On Thursday, students spent the afternoon with “Seedsters” at the Mustard Seed—an organization that seeks to meet the spiritual, physical, emotional and intellectual needs of adults with developmental disabilities by providing a loving and protected Christian community and meaningful activities.
The Service & Leadership Week concluded on Saturday with a home building project for Habitat for Humanity.
Dr. Brit Katz, vice president and dean of students, noted that Service & Leadership Week is an excellent example of the community service-activism that is a core value of the Millsaps College student experience.
“Hundreds of students invest thousands of hours each year in support of less fortunate communities. We strongly encourage our students to involve themselves in the worlds they wish to change,” Katz said. “Through Service & Leadership Week, change is manifested in their commitment, concern, care, and compassion.”
By Bonnie Tucker
Intern, Millsaps Office of Communications
