Monday, January 15, 2018

A Day On, Not a Day Off


             Today, through parades, programs and service, we celebrated the life and dream of a man who fought for equality, dignity and freedom for all social backgrounds.  We celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday as well as his life’s work involving the elimination of poverty, racism and nonviolence in America.
The former U.S Senator Harris Wofford and Atlanta Congressman John Lewis, co-authors of the King Holiday and Service Act started the Martin Luther King Day of Service which transformed the King holiday into a day of citizen action volunteerism resulting in the slogan, “A Day On, not a Day Off”.

Mrs.Coretta Scott King encouraged community service to carry on her husband’s unfinished work and to honor the legacy of Dr. King by making one’s community, country and the world a better place.

Last September, while Florida was under the siege of a category 5 storm called Hurricane Irma, I was invited by a friend to evacuate and visit Montgomery, Alabama. During my 4-day stay, I had the unique opportunity and pleasure to visit Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church where Dr. King was a full-time pastor. It was an honor to visit Dr. King's office, located in the church's basement. It is from this command post where he helped organized the infamous Montgomery Bus Boycott.  



Besides attending the annual MLK Jr. parade in St. Petersburg Florida, I performed by conscientious obligatory day of service at the Kind Mouse Productions Pantry. This wonderful organization, which is run by CEO Gina Wilkins, assists local families in transition and their hungry children. The families, who they provide with food, are those downsized by the economy and are trying to reestablish themselves. This important organization who is partnered with the Pinellas County School Board for the Jane's Pantry/HEAT program, provides nine emergency meals per week per child in a family that are homeless or on the border of becoming homeless. 







Full day, but with purpose and celebratory praises to a man whose huge life contributions have touched the lives of all walks of life.
All the best,
GMarie

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for your readership! All the best, GMarie,
      gingii97@gmail.com

      Delete