Between spending time with family and friends, members of the Mizzou Black Men’s Initiative embraced the generosity of the holiday season by giving back to their communities.
The organization’s annual Winter Service Challenge encourages students to complete at least five hours of service during the four-week break in their home communities.
This year, MBMI focused on bringing family and friends to volunteer by publicizing the events on Facebook and other websites. MBMI coordinator Marcus Mayes said though the majority of last year’s participants were MBMI members, about half of participants at each of this year’s events were non-members. Together, the participants logged more than 300 hours of community service.
Volunteers completed individual service projects across the country, but those in cities such as Kansas City, St. Louis and Columbia collaborated on group projects.
MBMI sergeant-at-arms Zachary McGowan and three others served Christmas dinner to more than 350 homeless and financially needy community members at Papa Lew’s Soul Delicious Restaurant in Kansas City. Volunteers helped guests feel comfortable by not only making sure each person had enough to eat, but also engaging in conversation with them.
“As students, we got a lot of questions about MU and the SEC, so we just chatted with them and had a really nice time,” McGowan said.
In St. Louis, 16 people sorted diapers and packaged food items for underprivileged families at Operation Food Search, a food bank. Eight others painted walls and installed wooden floors in a house through the Solomon Project, an organization created by the North Grand Neighborhood Services that renovates houses to sell to low-income residents.
MBMI member Jake Mitchell said working with the Solomon Project is personal for some members from St. Louis.
“The houses we build in that area are similar to (ones in) neighborhoods and areas where some of our brothers come from, so it’s like giving back to the area where you come from,” Mitchell said. “It feels really good to do it.”
Students from Columbia worked multiple times at Marine Parents, a support system for serving Marines. They sorted through donated items and thank-you notes and helped prepare for Care Package Project Pack Day, an event that sends care packages overseas.
“You get the opportunity to help impact lives overseas with care packages with lovely items that may not be accessible where they’re stationed,” Mayes said. “You often have opportunities to interact with Marine parents. It’s always good to connect.”
Sixteen students volunteered Jan. 14 at Columbia’s Habitat for Humanity, where they assisted with the construction of one house and put finishing touches on another. Mayes said this year marked the first MBMI has been involved with Habitat for Humanity.
“We’ve done things to help renovate, but you hear so much about Habitat,” Mayes said. “It makes you want to get involved.”
MBMI concluded the break’s service by preparing and serving food Monday at the St. Luke United Methodist Church’s Poor Man’s Breakfast. The organization has volunteered there for three years.
“It’s something really special,” Mayes said. “One, to see community members coming together for a cause and celebrate MLK, but also to see the students help out. Students are able to (have) fellowship and talk with community members and develop relationships.”
Mayes said he is excited about the positive feedback he has received about this year’s Winter Service Challenge and is looking forward to expanding next year’s event.
“We’re going to try to reach out to other programs to expand, to get as many people involved and give back to the community as possible,” Mayes said.
MBMI will participate in other service activities around Columbia this semester. As an organization promoting leadership and personal development, MBMI encourages its members to be leaders in the community by serving it.
“(Volunteering) can transfer skills, abilities, thoughts, ideas, whatever you’re able to grow from,” Mayes said. “It’s a beautiful thing, giving back.”
