On Saturday, Aug. 27, more than 100 LSU Law students contributed nearly 300 hours of volunteer work as part of the annual Fall Day of Service organized by the Public Interest Law Society and Student Bar Association.
“I am grateful to every law student who showed up and volunteered for the annual Fall Day of Service,” said 3L and PILS President Madeline Meyer. “Each of them represented the law school well, exhibiting professionalism and positivity while giving back to the Baton Rouge community. After the pandemic put a damper on many events over the past several years, the fact that over 100 students volunteered nearly 300 hours of community service was inspiring to see.”
Law students volunteered at several sites and for multiple nonprofit groups in the Baton Rouge area throughout the Fall Day of Service, including the USS KIDD Veterans Museum, Cat Haven, Keep Tiger Town Beautiful, Friends of the Animals, Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, and OLOL Children’s Health Children’s Developmental Center at McMains.
“It was our largest number of volunteers ever!” said Jennifer Richardson, founder of Keep Tiger Town Beautiful. “These law students were fierce litter warriors, and we were extremely proud of their dedication to our community, picking up 78 contractor bags of garbage, tires, and car parts. Please come back!”
The event was coordinated by SBA and PILS Community Service Chair Blaike Lee Ordes and Vice Chair Chris Ward. Professor John Devlin, who serves as PILS Faculty Advisor, commended the students for independently organizing such a large and successful event—for which he also served as a volunteer.
“That the students who signed up demonstrated their professionalism by showing up. As no doubt you know, most users of volunteers assume that if they are promised a certain number of volunteers, that only a half or a third of those promised will actually show up,” Devlin said. “Law students, on the other hand, almost all showed up, which is why so many projects ended early— they got more workers than they anticipated and ran out of work for us to do.”
“They were right on time and willing to do anything asked us them,” agreed Paula Shane, executive director of Friends of the Animals. “We were very fortunate to have LSU law students helping us clean on Saturday. Our adoption house looked great when they were finished.”
“The law students were awesome,” added Elijah Otto, USS KIDD Veterans Museum assistant ship keeper. “They were courteous, industrious, and professional. I enjoyed working with them to help preserve history and serve our community!”
“Volunteers from LSU Law students were a tremendous help sorting food over the weekend,” said Mike Manning, Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank president and CEO. “The students volunteered at our warehouse as part of the Fall Day of Service. The Food Bank relies heavily on support from our volunteers to help us feed our neighbors throughout our 11-parish service area.”
“It was such a pleasure working with the volunteers. These were some of the most dedicated, hardworking individuals I have had the pleasure of working with. No job was too hard or too menial,” said Ann Hindrichs, executive director of OLOL Children’s Health Children’s Developmental Center at McMains. “I hope that they will volunteer again!”
PILS Secretary/Treasurer William “Grey” Fitzgerald said the success of the event served as an inspiring reminder of why he and so many of his fellow students decided to pursue a legal career in the first place.
“Being able to make tangible, visual change is an enriching part of the Fall Day of Service,” said Fitzgerald, a 2L. “Many people lose sight of their ‘why’ in law school, and serving the Baton Rouge community is a great way to remember why many come here in the first place, to help others.”
