Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. With a Day of Service
Members of the Citizens Options Unlimited community made Monday, Jan. 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a “day on, not off,” marching with community members, collecting non-perishable food items, and listening to powerful words inspired by Dr. King’s life and legacy.
Glen Cove’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Program is one of the longest running commemorative events in the nation honoring Dr. King, bringing together leaders and residents from the greater Glen Cove community.
In its 42nd year, people gathered in the morning at First Baptist Church in Glen Cove for a symbolic march from the First Baptist Church to Robert M. Finley Middle School. This event kicks off partner organization AHRC Nassau’s MLK Day of Service campaign, an inclusive volunteering initiative made possible by a grant from The Arc of the United States. Working as a team, volunteers collected 2,600 pounds of food donations for the local food pantry, NOSH Delivers! Lorelei Thee, AHRC Nassau DEI Liaison, spoke about food insecurity during the program portion of the day.
“As a DEI Community of Practice Liaison, one thing about Dr. King’s legacy that really stands out to me is his persistence in the face of seemingly insurmountable adversity,” Lorelei said. “Still, he knew he was right and history vindicated him. Today, you can honor Dr. King’s legacy by donating to a food bank, but also by considering the parts of society that might need to change to make the world a better place, no matter how insurmountable it seems.”