National Park College (NPC) faculty, staff, and students volunteered at the Eleanor
Klugh Jackson House Monday for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The volunteers represented
different groups on campus including the Honors Program, Student Government and Phi
Theta Kappa.
Jackson House is a private, nonprofit tax-deductible organization that is funded solely
by local donations. They offer emergency assistance with food, clothing and shelter,
and medicine. Katherine McCorkle an NPC student and staff member states, “My husband
and I are grateful that we had the opportunity to represent NPC and to serve others
through the Jackson House in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s honor. To quote Dr. King,
‘Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?’ Serving
in this way changes your perspective. Everyone can fall on hard times and we can all
help in some way.”
Melissa Krafft, NPC staff member and alumnus, says she holds on to a particular quote
from Dr. King. Dr. King stated, “Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve.
You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject
and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by
love.” Krafft added, “Right now we live in a divided nation where looking the other
way is easy. Not truly seeing those around us is simple. I choose to see, I choose
love, and I choose a heart full of grace.”
Pictured left to right on the back row is Nannette Crane-Post, Jared Homishak and
Cory Morris, in the middle row is Katherine McCorkle, Mark McCorkle, and Alan Robinette
and the front row is Melissa Krafft.
