The University of South Alabama will participate in the 2013 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Monday, Jan. 21 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Dumas Wesley Community Center on 126 Mobile Street.

Volunteer registration begins at 9 a.m. and JagTran buses will pick up students at Beta/Gamma Commons at USA starting at that time. T-shirts will be given to the first 400 volunteers and a complimentary lunch will be provided.

Students, staff and faculty are invited to participate. Volunteers will help with numerous community activities including building, art, and cleaning projects. The Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity will build a wheelchair ramp. Volunteers will also work at Ronald McDonald House, Penelope’s Closet, L’Arche, St. Mary’s Home, and Habitat for Humanity.

The initiative is sponsored by the USA Center for Academic Service Learning and Civic Engagement, which is directed by English Instructor Karen Peterson. Additional sponsors for the event are the USA Student Government Association, Jaguar Productions, Eyeglass World, PUSH America, and South Brookley United Methodist Church.

USA joins universities around the country in supporting the community by participating in service projects. Service learning is a student-focused community effort that builds civic-minded citizens through community service. Students are also mentored by faculty, business and community partners.

Volunteers can pre-register at www.caslce.org, and information is available at www.facebook.com/usamlkday.

For more information, e-mail Karen Peterson at kpeterson@usouthal.edu. The Center for Academic Service-Learning and Civic Engagement is coordinating the event, which has been planned by the Be the Change Learning Community.