Martin Luther King Day: A Day of Service with FIUTS

Post written by Yuan Lin Qiu

Thirty volunteers from around the world participated in three local community service projects coordinated by FIUTS.

On this past not-so-bright and early Martin Luther King Day of Service morning, 30 international students and friends of FIUTS shuffled themselves out of their beds (despite having a day off from their classes), on a mission to volunteer on one of three different community service projects coordinated by FIUTS.

Instead of sleeping in or catching up on homework, these guys and girls went out in the Seattle community to fix up a garden and clean building facilities for individuals transitioning out of homelessness, paint and clean at a day center for women, and improve bike trails at a mountain bike park.

Take a look at a few photos from the day:

Before their projects, sleepy volunteers met up with their groups at the MLK Kickoff Event hosted by the United Way and University of Washington. With free coffee and rousing speeches about the legacy of Dr. King, they are ready to serve!

Taiwanese exchange student Lawrence Liu and FIUTS Facilitator Katrina Go show off their hard work after cleaning up a section of extremely heavy wet leaves and debris in the garden for the formerly homeless residents at the apartment complex of Plymouth Housing Group. Lawrence says he was happy to have participated in a huge volunteering event like this, which does not typically exist in Taiwan.

These trailblazing volunteers, who fixed up bike trails at the I-5 Colonnade Park with the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, wield their mighty tools of choice.

The team at the Elizabeth Gregory House Day Center worked hard to repaint the center's hallway. Not exactly the most glamorous of jobs, but these volunteers battled on with their teamwork and enthusiasm, and ended their day with weary, but satisfied smiles.

Thanks to all of the amazing volunteers who participated in this year's Martin Luther King Day of Service!