Concordia faculty, staff and students volunteer hours of service during Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday

Published by Concordia University, Nebraska 7 years ago on Thu, Jan 19, 2017 11:46 AM
Concordia University, Nebraska faculty, staff and students volunteer on Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

While the Concordia University, Nebraska, campus was closed for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, many faculty, staff and students volunteered hours of service.

Concordia received grants from the Lutheran Church Extension Fund, Nebraska District and Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) for one service project to prepare flood buckets. These are five-gallon buckets filled with cleaning supplies for use by individuals who have survived a flood. The flood buckets are stored until a disaster happens then they are shipped all over the United States. Concordia partnered with Christ Lutheran Church in Lincoln who stores them until needed.

“Dr. King embodied the idea of service and it is in this spirit that we decided to dedicate the holiday as a day of service and remembrance,” said Rehema Kavugha, director of student development. “It’s a service to others to give back and this is an opportunity to come together side-by-side with students for a day of service.”

Additionally, 34 individuals from Concordia University attended Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) Disaster Training held by Rev. Meyer of the LCMS Disaster Relief organization. This six-hour workshop offered training on how to respond to a disaster and help victims feel safe while sharing the love of Christ. 

By the end of this workshop, participants were FEMA certified as faith-based first responders and received an ID card that can be used anywhere a disaster happens. 

Additional Martin Luther King, Jr. activities include a lecture by Gary Spiller, class of 2000 who serves as executive director of student services and innovation at the School District of University City, Missouri. His lecture, "Keeper of the Dream" will be at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 24 in the Weller Chapel Auditorium on the Concordia campus.

An additional celebration of Martin Luther King’s legacy and Black History Month will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 21 in Weller Chapel Auditorium.

These two events are free and open to the public.