Two Marshall University students spent their Friday morning sorting through community clothing donations for the Harmony House for MLK Day of Service. Mike Andry, Mr. Marshall 2017 and member of the TAU-NU Chapter of Kappa Sigma, and Emma Nelson, Community Service Director for Alpha Delta, are both excited to help in the community.

“I feel like a lot of days you go day-to-day and you don’t realize what’s going on in your community. You’re on campus. You don’t see the outskirts of what goes on. So, it’s nice to go out and really see how you can change that,” said Nelson.

The pair organized community donations before taking them downstairs to where members of the Harmony House can receive clothes.

“[The Day of Service] is a very good way to help others who are in need,” Andry stated.

“Donations have just kept coming. The community has been so generous to us,” said Bill Rosenberger, Director of Development at Harmony House. “We decided that our focus was really going to be on sorting donations, because the quicker we can sort them, the quicker we can put them in our actual donation room downstairs for clients.”

Marshall has partnered up with the Harmony House in the past, as well. The House has worked with Alpha Chi Omega, the President’s Office, and the psychology department.

“[Marshall and the Harmony House] has been a great relationship,” said Rosenberger.

The Harmony House works to meet the needs of the homeless by providing food, housing, healthcare, clothing and helping individuals gain employment. They also work to collaborate with partner agencies to provide services such as the First Steps Program.

“I know students have been looking for opportunities to serve and to get hours, and we try to provide that the best we can,” Rosenberger said.

Ginny Blake can be contacted at [email protected]