As the nation prepares Monday to honor Martin Luther King Jr., cities across the region are making sure his legacy lives on through celebrations, marches and community service projects.
“Martin Luther King Jr. said it’s always the right time to do that right thing, and so we want the community to remember him by actively utilizing this as a day on for service, not just a day off to watch TV,” Renee Sanders, director for United Way of the Golden Triangle Region, told The Dispatch.
United Way is partnering with the city of Columbus to coordinate a service project aimed at restoring and restocking the mini free food pantries located across the county. Volunteers are asked to adopt one of the 28 boxes, remove and replace expired items, clean it and make any repairs it might need.
Sanders said there are 28 mini food pantries scattered across Columbus, Caledonia, Crawford and Artesia, making it an easy way to meet a need for several people.
“We really don’t know if we’re meeting all the needs of the hungry, but if you get one, then that’s all that really matters,” she said. “If you can reach one, then we’ve done what we can do.”
As of press time Thursday, there were 18 boxes left to adopt on the United Way website.
Mayor Keith Gaskin said the city will host a freedom walk Monday starting at the Municipal Complex at 9 a.m. and ending at City Hall.
A prayer breakfast will be held immediately after in a tent in front of the building, where the street will be blocked off. Commander of the 14th Flying Training Wing Col. James Blech, District 41 Rep. Kabir Karriem, and District 38 Rep. Cheikh Taylor will speak at the breakfast, and there will also be live music and a poetry reading.
Following the breakfast, there will be a community reading of King’s “Letter from the Birmingham Jail.” Gaskin said it’s the second year for the reading.
“It was pretty powerful,” he said of last year. “I think a lot of people don’t understand the significance of that letter and the impact that it had on what was going on during that time with social justice.”
Gaskin said there will also be a place at the event to donate canned goods and other non-perishables to stock mini free pantries. Those who would prefer to only attend the breakfast and reading are welcome to arrive at City Hall around 9:15 a.m., he said.
“We’re hoping that we get a good, diverse turnout for the event because I think that people will go away with a really good feeling about the legacy of Dr. King and the impact that it’s had in the community,” he said.
Starkville
The Oktibbeha County Branch of the NAACP will host its annual Unity March on Monday. Prior to the march, there will be a worship service beginning at 10 a.m. at Mt. Peiler Missionary Baptist Church. Rev. LeRoy Davenport will deliver a message.
Rev. Ronnie Tucker, president of the branch, said the service aims to remind people of the importance of coming together.
“Recognizing that we’re all a part of the body of Christ and working together for the advancement of mankind and lifting up each other rather than pushing each other down,” he said.
Later at 2 p.m., the walk will start at Unity Park and go east on Main Street. It will conclude by 4 p.m. at Fire Station Park.
Tucker said the point of the march is to remember King’s legacy and how marches during the Civil Rights Movement brought people together to show everyone is important. But it also serves a second purpose, he said.
“Particularly in this climate of divisiveness that we’re seeing in our nation, (the goal) is to let the people know here in Oktibbeha County, we are unified. We’re willing to come together and show that. We want to continue to not only show that in walking together but continuing to work together throughout every day.”
West Point
On Saturday, there will be a food and coat drive from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mary Holmes Gym. Volunteers are invited to bring canned goods and other non-perishable items to donate.
There will also be a march down Martin Luther King Drive beginning at 9 a.m. on East Half Mile Street and ending at Mary Holmes College. There will be a program beginning at 9:45 a.m.
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 47 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 47 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
