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Sunday, Nov. 17
The Indiana Daily Student

Holiday draws volunteers

Student turnout up from past years, organizers say

A young boy leans forward with a hand on his chin as he listens to a student read a story in the lobby of the Monroe County Public Library.\nMore than 80 IU students held the attention of the children at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Read-Out at the library's children's department Monday. A heightened interest in volunteerism and help from the Volunteer Students Bureau brought more students than last year to such activities, program supervisors said. \nAlthough the number of student volunteers has increased, volunteers are needed more frequently and not just for holidays.\nAt the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington, 311 S. Lincoln St., 31 IU and Bloomington High School South students danced with children and helped them write renditions of King's "I Have a Dream" speech.\n"That worked very well," said Bobbie Brooks-Steinhauer, the club's unit director. "It was a nice amount. I think working with kids is a real likable thing to do, and that brings (college students) in to help. We hope to have some more permanent volunteers out of the group."\nCommunity Kitchen, 917 S. Rogers St., attracted student volunteers to make carry-out meals, clean facilities and serve at children's lunches. \nLance Thurner, kitchen manager, said an average of six volunteers show up daily, while 12 participated in events Monday. The amount was significant, most likely because of the holiday, he said.\nThe day off not only provided students with an incentive to volunteer, but also gave them the opportunity to express diversity on a day that celebrates the subject. \nStudents from such groups as the Simon G. Hillel Center's Mitzvah Corps, Collins Living-Learning Center and Sigma Lambda Gamma read books with Japanese, African-American and other cultural themes at the public library.\n"I'm happy that so many organizations have come together," said senior Kavitha Pai, secretary of the Asian-American Culture Center, who participated with other board members from the center. "There's a diverse crowd coming in and reading to the kids, so that's really exciting. The diversity among the people is getting broader in terms of who's volunteering."\nSophomore Kandice Franklin doesn't just volunteer on special occasions. As a member of the Southside Black Student Union, she read at the library Monday and regularly helps in the library's preschool division. She said students should volunteer more often to relieve stress and gain satisfaction from assisting others.\n"It makes you feel good about yourself," she said. "You need to do something for other people."\nMonroe County Library Children's Department manager, Ginny Richey, said she wishes there were more student volunteers like Franklin. The Volunteer Students Bureau arranged student-volunteer groups with organizations for the holiday, she said.\n"It seems to me that we have more volunteers here," Richey said. "But we hope there are more students here because it's such a valuable opportunity for them to do"

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