MLK Saturday Service Project
Saturday, January 15th, 2022 - 9am to 12:30pm
Registration is now closed. Also, due to the rapid rise of COVID-19 cases, all in-person projects have now been cancelled. All registrants will receive an email notifying them of this change.
Thank you for your interest in the Martin Luther King Jr. Saturday Service Project which is part of the University of Utah MLK Week of events. Below are a list of options that include opportunities on-campus, off-campus, and as well as self-directed projects that include ways you can support a handful of organizations with either a financial contribution or item donation. We ask that you only sign up for a project if you plan on participating since it would otherwise take an opportunity away from someone.
The Bennion Center and University of Utah are taking the COVID-19 pandemic very seriously. All in-person opportunities will require that volunteers wear a face covering over their nose and mouth for the entire project. Volunteers will also be required to fill out a pre-health assessment prior to showing up to the project. Anyone who is feeling ill or has had symptoms up to 14 days before the project date will be asked to stay home.
Any questions should be directed to Bryce Williams, Senior Programs Manager at bryce.williams@utah.edu
Please view all of the project options below, then register for the project you would like to sign up for.
If the project does not appear on the registration form, the project has been filled.
5 projects & 120 spots
Feed U Food Pantry
Location: Union Basement- 200 S. Central Campus Drive
Volunteer Spots: 20
Description: Volunteers will participate in a number of tasks: 1. Reorganize/cleaning the pantry. 2. Decorate reusable brown grocery sacks to give out to clients. 3. Make to go recipe kits for clients to pick up
Additional: Volunteers will be asked to wear face covering over their nose and mouths at all times. Please note that clothing could become stained or dirty during this project.
Age limit: No age limit for this project
Hat Knitting
Location: Union East Ballroom- 200 S. Central Campus Drive
Volunteer Spots: 30
Description: Volunteers will knit hats using a loom that will be donated to organizations that serve individuals experiencing homelessness.
Additional: Volunteers will be asked to wear face covering over their nose and mouths at all times.
Age limit: No age limit for this project
Scarf Knitting
Location: Union West Ballroom- 200 S. Central Campus Drive
Volunteer Spots: 30
Description: Volunteers will knit scarfs using a loom that will be donated to organizations that serve individuals experiencing homelessness.
Additional: Volunteers will be asked to wear face covering over their nose and mouths at all times.
Age limit: No age limit for this project
Sewing Reusable Bags
Location: Union Den- 200 S. Central Campus Drive
Volunteer Spots: 20
Description: Volunteers will sew reusable bags that will be used for collect and transport food for clients utilizing the Feed UI Food Pantry
Additional: Volunteers will be asked to wear face covering over their nose and mouths at all times.
Age limit: No age limit required, but youth will need to register individually and be accompanied by an adult.
Valentines Cards for Seniors
Location: Kahlert Village 1010: Irene Fisher Community Engagement Room- 265 S. 1850 E.
Volunteer Spots: 20
Description: Volunteers will make Valentines cards for seniors at the Capitol Hill Senior Center.
Additional: Volunteers will be asked to wear face covering over their nose and mouths at all times.
Age limit: No age limit.
5 projects & 57 spots
Crossroads Urban Center
Location: 347 S. 400 E. (Transportation is not provided to this project location, but located near a TRAX station).
Volunteer Spots: 15
Description: Volunteers will be asked to help with indoor and outdoor aesthetic freshening up of our downtown food pantry. Tasks will include painting pantry shelves, sorting and stocking food, deep cleaning inside, and potentially some outdoor tasks (weather dependent).
Additional: Volunteers will be asked to wear face covering over their nose and mouths at all times. Please note that clothing could become stained or dirty during this project.
Age limit: Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age to participate in this project.
Maliheh Free Clinic
Location: 941 E. 3300 S. (Transportation is not provided to this project location).
Volunteer Spots: 20
Description: Volunteers in this project will assist the Maliheh Free Clinic is deep cleaning and sterilization practices of their waiting rooms, office spaces, and examination room.
Additional: Volunteers will be asked to wear face covering over their nose and mouths at all times. Please note that clothing could become stained or dirty during this project.
Age limit: Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age to participate in this project.
Promise South Salt Lake- Historic Scott School
Location: 3280 S. 540 East- (Transportation is not provided to this project location).
Volunteer Spots: 12
Description: Volunteers in this project will help with general cleaning, organizing, and small improvement projects to continue to make HSS a thriving art & community center for the PSSL program and other partner organizations.
Additional: Volunteers will be asked to wear face covering over their nose and mouths at all times. Please note that clothing could become stained or dirty during this project.
Age limit: Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age to participate in this project.
Volunteers of America - Youth Resource Center (7:30- 10:00) *Note the time difference
Location: 888 S. 400 W. (Transportation is not provided to this project location).
Volunteer Spots: 10
Description: Volunteers will come in to prepare, serve, and clean up breakfast for the clients at the Homeless Youth Resource Center.
Additional: Volunteers will be asked to wear face covering over their nose and mouths at all times. Please note that clothing could become stained or dirty during this project.
Age limit: Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age to participate in this project.
Palmer Court
Location: 999 S. State Street (Transportation is not provided to this project location).
Volunteer Spots: 15
Description: Volunteers will assist with a variety of cleaning and organization projects.
Additional: Volunteers will be asked to wear face covering over their nose and mouths at all times. Please note that clothing could become stained or dirty during this project.
Age limit: Volunteers must be at least 12 years of age to participate in this project.
5 projects & 425 spots
Feed U Food Pantry Donation
Description: Volunteers will drop off food donations at the Feed U Food Pantry located in the A. Ray Olpin Student Union between the hours of 9 am and 12:30 PM on Saturday, January 15th. Anyone interested in taking this on as a group should be prepared to submit names and student ID numbers of all participants at the time of drop off.
Items requested include:
- Proteins: Canned meats, tuna, peanut butter
- Canned Fruit (Peaches, mandarin oranges)
- Other Dry Goods (Rice, ramen, pasta, mac and cheese)
- Breakfast Foods (Cereal, pancake mixes, granola bars)
- Canned Soups (Mushroom, chicken noodle, tomato soup)
- Canned Vegetables (All types except green beans)
- Other items: New Tupperware, can openers, hygiene products.
Volunteer Spots: 100
Guadalupe School Valentines Book Drive
Description: Volunteers can sign up to purchase a Valentine themed book for a child at Guadalupe School. Volunteers will be provided a link to Guadalupe School’s Amazon Wish List for these items. Purchased items will be shipped or can be dropped off to the Bennion Center (Union 101) for distribution.
Volunteer Spots: 100
George Floyd Memorial Scholarship Fund Donation
Description: Volunteers who choose this option will sign up to make a financial contribution to the George Floyd Memorial Scholarship through the University of Utah Black Cultural Center. Volunteers can make any contribution of their choosing, but the suggested donation is $20.22 cents for the 2022 calendar year. A link will be sent to volunteers who choose this option.
Volunteer Spots: 100
Youth Resource Center - Hand Warmers & Gloves Drive
Description: Volunteers who choose this option will sign up to make a donation of NEW hand warmers or gloves to be donated to the Volunteers of America’s Youth Resource Center. Hand warmers can be dropped off to the Bennion Center on Friday, January 14th from 8 AM- 5 pm or on Saturday, January 15th from 9 AM- 12 PM.
Volunteer Spots: 100
Clever Octopus - Craft Kit Assembly
Description: Volunteers who choose this option will sign up to pick up materials from Clever Octopus during the week of January 10-15th to prepare craft kits. Information on this will be sent out ahead of time to schedule a pick up with Clever Octopus.
Volunteer Spots: 25
1 project & 20 spots
American Red Cross Mapping (virtual)
Saturday, January 15th from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
ONLINE VIA ZOOM
Description: Volunteers will use a computer mapping system to go over satellite images of communities around the world, usually places that have not had detailed maps done. They will trace over buildings and roads and then these maps will be uploaded into an international system that is used by disaster workers (like the Red Cross) and other humanitarian aid non-profits who will use these maps to deliver much needed medical services, like vaccinations, as well as other humanitarian aid such as shelters after a disaster.
Volunteers must have their own computer and a stable internet connection for this project.
Volunteer Spots: 20
2021-2022 Saturday Service Projects
- Legacy of Lowell - Saturday, September 11th, 2021
- MLK Jr. Day of Service - Saturday, January 15th 2022
- Environmental Sustainability - Saturday, April 9th 2022