Each year Washington University School of Law students come together on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to honor Dr. King’s legacy and serve our neighbors in the St. Louis community. Last year, I was one of nearly one hundred WashU Law students who signed up to volunteer at organizations across the city. I was assigned with about a dozen other students to serve at Lydia’s House, a non-profit that provides transitional housing and services to survivors of domestic violence in the St. Louis region.
At the start of the service project, Jennelle, an employee from Lydia’s House and survivor of domestic violence herself, introduced us to the impact the organization has on the community. She shared her personal story of living in Lydia’s House transitional apartments while fleeing violence in her own home. I was very moved by both Janelle’s story and her commitment to helping others break their own cycle of domestic violence.
After learning about the services Lydia’s House provides, we turned to our project for the day: cleaning a new facility the non-profit had just acquired and would be turning into their main headquarters. Under Jennelle’s instruction, we scrubbed floors, removed old items from the walls, and moved furniture to help prepare the facility for its new use. It was wonderful to spend the morning catching up with classmates, visiting a part of the city I had never been to before, and helping an organization that provides tremendous services to the St. Louis community. I was so moved by Jennelle’s spirit that I stayed in touch with her and helped PSAB organize another service project with Lydia’s House later in the semester.
This year, WashU Law students will again be working with a number of local organization, including Lydia’s House as well as several others listed below. This is a great opportunity to expand your knowledge of St. Louis, learn about an impactful non-profit, and, to give back in a small way to the community that you will continue to call home during this new year.
We hope that you will join PSAB and volunteer to participate in our MLK Day of Service on Monday, January 15. Participants should expect to volunteer for a three or four-hour period in the morning or afternoon (or both if you can!). Breakfast and carpool options will be provided at the law school and there will be a social event later in the day to celebrate the holiday and the start of the new semester! Please follow this link to sign up and we look forward to seeing you there!
Participating Organzations:
Haven House
Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation
Lydia’s House
Mary Ryder Home
Operation Food Search
St. Patrick Center
The Little Bit Foundation
Forest ReLeaf