A Light for the Community: Laila Plummer’s Mission to Serve Baton Rouge
February 25, 2026
For Laila Plummer, a biology pre-med student at LSU, service is a core value that defines who she is. As we celebrate Baton Rouge on 225 Day, Laila shares how her journey of serving the local community has shaped her view on leadership, healthcare, and the power of a simple smile.
Laila Plummer
What inspired you to get involved in community service here in Baton Rouge?
LSU makes it very easy for you to get involved in some type of service that is bigger than yourself through various campus opportunities. My passion for healthcare service sparked during my freshman year when I researched sickle cell anemia, a disease prevalent in the African American community, after my little cousin was diagnosed. Seeing the disparities in funding, research, and marketing for that disease compared to others opened my eyes to the corruption in the healthcare system and inspired me to combat those inequities.
What does it mean to support families during some of their most stressful moments?
As an aspiring doctor, this is something that resonates with me, and I am very passionate about it. To me, supporting families during some of their most stressful moments means making an impact by ensuring they have access to basic needs like healthcare. Through my work with the LSU Global Brigades in Panama, I witnessed what it meant to provide care through free clinics in communities where the nearest hospital is over two hours away. It’s about amplifying voices that may not have one and empowering others to advocate for accessible healthcare.
How has this work changed the way you see your role in the Baton Rouge community?
It has made me realize how much impact can be made in a very short amount of time. For example, I volunteer at the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank and in just four hours we packaged over 400 meals to be distributed to families among the local community. This experience taught me that being a leader means having empathy and knowing that even if someone’s situation doesn’t look like yours, you can still help them.
Is there a moment from volunteering that has stayed with you?
I volunteer at the Baton Rouge General surgery waiting area checking patients in at 5:00 A.M. every Wednesday. One morning, a lady who was very nervous about her surgery told me I was “truly a light to this world” and saw Jesus radiate off me. She said that my bubbly personality really calmed her down. Knowing that I could provide that kind of heartwarming confirmation to someone in a moment of fear was amazing. I still always come in with a smile on my face because you never know how something as small as a smile can impact someone so greatly.
What would you tell students who want to serve their community but don’t know where to start?
LSU provides a wide range of opportunities that make it easy to get involved. Students wanting to get involved can:
- Participate in large-scale events like LSU Go Big or MLK Day of Service
- Volunteer in the campus food pantry in the Union
- Join the student organizations you see in Free Speech Alley
- Ask your professors or staff at the union for guidance
If you have a desire in your heart to help, it will be easy to find and sometimes it may even find you!
If you could encourage one person to volunteer on 225 Day, what would you want them to know?
I want them to know that a little goes a long way. You can make such a meaningful change and impact on your community in such a short time. Even if you don’t think what you’re doing is that “big,” it is going to be big for someone else’s day, always remember that.