As a way to honor and cherish the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., Mississippi State University’s Maroon Volunteer Center and Volunteer Starkville are pairing up to dedicate the holiday to service.
The MLK Jr. Day of Service is celebrated all over the country on Jan. 15, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service, the organization leading the service effort. According to their website, “the MLK Day of Service empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers, creates solutions to social problems and moves us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a beloved community.”
According to Megan Franks, MSU assistant director of student leadership and community engagement, volunteering is a significant way individuals can become more involved with the holiday.
“MLK (Jr.) Day is an important activity to participate in because it is an opportunity to honor Dr. King’s legacy through serving others,” Franks said. “MLK (Jr.) Day of Service is a great way to learn about your community and bring individuals together for a good cause.”
Franks said there are various activities in the area volunteers can participate in, such as minor construction, painting, gardening, cleaning and organizing donations.
Individuals can register to volunteer on the MLK Day service’s website. Volunteers are asked to check-in at The Mill Conference Center at 8 a.m., which includes breakfast and a free t-shirt. Afterward, volunteers can go to one of the 19 service locations. Franks said transportation will be provided to those who require it.
A free breakfast to honor MLK Jr. will also be available to those not volunteering. MSU’s 24th annual MLK Jr. Day Unity Breakfast begins at 8 a.m., with the doors opening at 7:30 a.m. Seats are limited to first-come, first-served. 
Bria Henderson, a member of the diversity and outreach cabinet of MSU student association, spoke on the importance of MSU students volunteering with members of the community.
“Dr. King’s legacy is one of unity and service,” Henderson said. “It is commendable that the students of Mississippi State University and the Starkville community would use his holiday to promote the unity and service that Dr. King spent his life working for. The Unity Breakfast and Day of Service preserve Dr. King’s legacy and further promote his mission.”
A special program begins at 9 a.m., where Former State Rep. Tyrone Ellis will speak. This summer, Ellis retired after serving 38 years in the House of Representatives. Ellis, who is from Starkville, started the job in 1980. While he was a representative, Ellis served on numerous committees for Mississippi.
Henderson said Ellis is committed to serving the Starkville community, even after he has stopped serving officially.
“I think it is wonderful for former Representative Ellis, who has spent so much of his career working on behalf of this community to be a part of such a large community and MSU event,” Henderson said. “Representative Ellis’ role in this program exemplifies how much our leadership is committed to promoting unity and benevolence within the community.”