This project will incorporate Dr. King’s legacy to fight against poverty and inequality for individuals experiencing food insecurity, homelessness, and/or poverty by providing essential items to marginalized and low-income populations. The event will take place on Tuesday, January 21st, 2020 from 10:30am-12:30pm in the main east mall area of Lake Washington Institute of Technology. The event will consist of a 3-part event that will include 3-month, campus-wide, hygiene and first aid drive to collect materials to build care kits to give away on the day of the actual event. The second part will consist of a 30-minute Financial Mobility & Wellness Workshop facilitated by our community partner with Hopelink. The third and final part will consist of 50+ volunteers gathering on campus to assemble the care kits to be given to those experiencing poverty.
Prior to our January 21st, 2020 day of service, LWTech will launch a 3-month, campus-wide hygiene and first-aid drive to collect materials to include in care kits. These items will include feminine products, shampoo, conditioner, soap, diapers, and wipes. During the supply drive information will be provided to students, staff, and faculty about poverty in America in an attempt to bring awareness for the necessity related to creating care kits. The college community will be asked to contribute to the materials drive and volunteer to create care kits for donations to communities in need. Additionally, a portion of the service grant award will be used to purchase supplemental supplies to combine with donated supplies to make more complete care kits to best serve those in need.
On January 21st, 2020 a team of over 50 volunteers will gather to assemble the care kits. This activity will be done in our open mall area to bring greater awareness to the issue and the service project. We will coordinate care bag delivery and pick up with community based organizations and our own LWTech food pantry to serve not only the East King County community, but also our own campus community needs.
PRE-EVENT SCHEDULE:
ON-GOING - 11/1/20 – 1/21/20
- Food Drive – Audrey Bernal, Crystal McKeag, and Amber Hisatake will lead a 3-month campus-wide hygiene and first aid products drive to collect items to create care bags.
- The event will be promoted by the RISE Center, Student Programs and the Workforce Development Department to recruit as many volunteers as possible.
DAY OF EVENT: 1/21/20
- 10:15am-10:30am – All volunteers must check-in and t-shirts given out (Main East Mall Area)
- 10:30am-11:00am - All volunteers attend financial wellness workshop facilitated by Hopelink’s Donna O’Connor (E144)
All volunteers will participate in an educational workshop about Financial Mobility & Wellness. This will be facilitated by our community partner with Hopelink (Donna O’Connor). The workshop will share information on budgeting and financial wellness.
Participants will also brainstorm concrete actions, past volunteering on MLK day each year, that will contribute to a more just and equitable society. Information will also be shared about how to apply for food benefits through the assistance of our Basic Food and Employment Training (BFET) program and our campus community resource specialist.
- 10:30am-112:15pm. - All volunteers will gather to assemble donated items into care bags in main East Mall area tables.
- 12:15pm – 12:30: Load all care bags into delivery vehicles of staff who will deliver to community partners (Sophia Way, Sky Valley Foodbank)
- 12:30 - 1:00pm: Lunch (Light lunch will be provided by ASG and other funding).
