Students, faculty package books in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, classes were not in session, but for Elon University volunteers it was "a day on, not a day off," according to Leon Williams, director of the Multicultural Center and head of the Martin Luther King Jr. Planning Committee.

"It's all about service," Williams said. "This is our MLK Day of Service to reflect on King's mission and vision that this would become a day of service to the world."

The Martin Luther King Jr. Planning Committee organized a book drive that benefits Kids Read, an organization established in 2007 by Elon University junior Brenna Humphries.

Students and faculty gathered in McKinnon Hall to prepare books for shipping to libraries, hospitals and orphanages located in Georgia, North Carolina, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.

"While I was (visiting an inner city children's hospital with my church youth group), I realized that the sickly children in the hospital spent countless hours playing video games and watching television — not doing anything constructive," Humphries said. "I thought it would be good to give these children books and workbooks so that their time could be spent doing something educational."

Williams said he was excited to work with Humphries' organization, and said it is special to be working with an organization created by an Elon student. The feeling was mutual.

"I am elated to work with the MLK Committee," Humphries said. "I think that Martin Luther King Jr. Day couldn't be a better day to give back to the community and promote literacy."

Members of the committee aimed to collect 500 books to ship to hospitals and libraries associated with Kids Read, but exceed the goal and doanted 1,052 books, according to Williams. Letters from Elon University students and faculty about "why I like to read" will accompany the donated books.

"Our goal is to provide a breadth and depth of knowledge and opportunities for students, faculty, staff and administrators to participate in a program," Williams said. "We try to provide many opportunities that will reach across different audiences so everyone can have a participating role"