Students from different backgrounds and groups came to participate in Martin Luther King day of service at Southeastern. Students went to different locations to help the community: St. Catherine’s food bank, Families Feeding Families and the Boys and Girls Club in Durant.

“We are here because it is MLK day and it is a day off from classes but we want to help the community,” said Southeastern student, Audra Talley. “Our motto is that this is a day on and not a day off from helping out.” The MLK day of service happens every year on MLK day with other groups helping communities all over the country in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

Fraternities and sororities including members of Sigma Tau Gamma participated in renovations of the old Durant Middle School for the Boys and Girls Club. “We’re giving back to the community and trying to help out as much as we can,” said Ryan Nelson, a member of Sigma Tau Gamma. “As a fraternity, we do a lot of charity work and fundraisers, and since Durant is our community, we’re here to help restore it.”

The Boys and Girls is a post-education center for children whose parents do not have funding for daycare. Children from 5 to 18 years old can have a place to be safe and learn basic cooperation skills. These cooperation skills and safe places were the foundation of what Martin Luther King Jr. sought after and hoped to achieve. “MLK day is about coming together with different backgrounds and overcoming cultural differences and striving to help bring the community closer”, said Debra Fulenchek, a volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club and Wellness Coordinator at Southeastern.

At the Boys and Girls club, students worked to renovate the old building to create a suitable space for children to learn and have opportunities that they would not normally have. Each room in the facility will be used for some type of learning purpose after the renovations are complete.