MLK Service Day 2023 Recap

We started the new year under a beautiful winter sky as we honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Projects were scheduled all weekend long, from January 14-16, and focused on literacy, hunger, human services and unification. Check out the project highlights and photos below.

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Projects this year included:

Book Drive – Our annual book drive was a great success! More than 195 new and gently used books were donated and given to local youth organizations like the MNW Boys and Girls Club, the MLK Festival and the Meigs Literacy Fair. Thank you to the Thomas County Public Library for the donation of books, and thank you to The Bookshelf for partnering with us again this year as a book drop-off location!

Manna Drop – Members of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, American Beauty Chapter No. 214 and Joppa Lodge No. 14, as well as individuals and families, gathered to distribute free food to those in need on Saturday, January 14. Held at Restoration Tabernacle in partnership with the MLK Faith Walk, more than 250 individuals received bags of canned goods, fresh bread and pastries, dairy items and more.

Meigs Literacy Fair and Read-A-Thon – This annual event held at the Meigs Community Center is a fun morning for all ages! Volunteers were encouraged to dress as their favorite book character and read to more than 30 kids in attendance. Much thanks to our fellow HOTC Board Chair, Joe Cargile with Whitehurst, Blackburn and Warren for delivering pizzas!

Crafts for a Cause – This year, volunteers made no-sew scarves by taking pieces of fleece, cutting fringe on the ends and tying the fringe pieces into knots. Another DIY project was “soups & socks” kits that are made with one pair of socks, two cans of soup and notes of encouragement. These items will be donated to local human services agencies, like Fountain of Life Rescue and Thomasville Street Church, to distribute to those in need during the cold winter months. We will also place some of these items in the HOTC Blessing Box located by our office next to the Big Oak. More than 90 total Crafts for a Cause items were donated. Thank you to the ladies of AKA and to the First Baptist Church DNow youth for their group donations!

We would also like to recognize the MLK Walk and Festival! The organizers, led by Geneva King, created a fun-filled and jam-packed lineup of events all in honor of Dr. King’s legacy – from comedy acts on Friday night, to the walk Saturday morning and festival Saturday afternoon, to gospel and worship services on Sunday. We are thankful for our ongoing partnership with the MLK Walk and Festival!