Harris-Stowe State University will participate in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service, which has been coordinated by the Corporation for National and Community Service. This annual effort is one that inspires Americans from across the country to come together on the King Holiday to serve their neighbors and communities.
This year, HSSU will partner with Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club, AmerenUE, the City of Bellefontaine Neighbors and the Bellefontaine Police Department to clean up 30 acres of land given to the boys’ and girls’ club by Bob Russell Jr. and the Surrey Lane Athletic Association in October 2011. The park which houses the land is known as the Bob Russell Park, and is currently covered with 10 existing baseball diamonds. The goal is to offer a place where area youth can learn and perfect baseball and softball skills, including grade and high school-aged individuals, college students and young adults.
For Harris-Stowe, this endeavor was made possible by the MLK Day of Service Collegiate Challenge mini-grant, which was awarded to the university in the amount of $850. HSSU was one of 14 universities recognized by Missouri Campus Compact by providing funding to go toward building MLK-related projects that combine meaningful service, thoughtful reflection and opportunities for sustained service and ongoing community involvement. This is the second year that Harris-Stowe has received the grant, which encourages college students to honor the memory, life and work of Dr. King. More than 150 students will assist with refurbishing the fields, on Monday, January 16, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
For more information on the National Day of Service, please visit
http://mlkday.gov/.