NEWS

Many Augustans make MLK Day one of community service

Jozsef Papp
jpapp@augustachronicle.com
People pack emergency hygiene kits for families in need at Belle Terrace Presbyterian Church in Augusta, Ga., Monday morning January 20, 2020. [MICHAEL HOLAHAN/THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE]

For many, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day off from school and work. But not so for many others.

“I want them to realize this is a day on, not a day off. Martin Luther King Jr., wouldn't want us at home doing (nothing), he would want us to be serving our community,” Joy Brown said.

Brown is the AmeriCorp Volunteers in Service to America member stationed at Willis Foreman Elementary School and was heavily involved in planning the annual MLK Toiletries Drive in conjunction with United Way of the CSRA.

Cheryl Odom, VISTA supervisor for United Way of the CSRA, said the AmeriCorps VISTA program is designed to eradicate poverty and is sponsored by the agency.The program has partnered with Richmond County Schools and Columbia County Schools to serve those schools by providing VISTA members.

Dozens of volunteers packed soap, deodorant, toothbrushes and other items inside thousands of bags at Belle Terrace Presbyterian Church on Monday to give to the homeless, the elderly and area families who may be experiencing the effects of poverty.

Odom said there is a great need in the community for help.

“One of the things that we do, as we do this project, is we have agencies that we reach out to as we prepare for this project and we ask them, ‘How many family kits do you need? How many individual kits, male and female do you need?’” Odom said. “The need is so great. We try our best to meet that need, but it depends on the generosity of our community on how many kits we are able to make.”

The drive has been held for the past 10 years and Brown hopes to surpass the 4,000 kits they were able to make and deliver last year. Odom said it wouldn’t be possible to help so many people without the volunteers and donors.

They begin taking donations in November and October, by placing boxes around the area at different local businesses and schools. This year, they received toiletries valued at over $16,000. Volunteers from New Exodus Missionary Baptist Church, Augusta Bar of Black Women Association, AKA sorority, Belle Terrace Youth Group and Fort Gordon helped pack the kits.

“We are just so thankful for all of our volunteers. We could not do it with those donors and the volunteers here to help us pack,” Odom said.

At Lake Forest Hills Elementary, parents, teachers and students gathered to build three blessing boxes, which will be placed throughout the area. Katie Wynn, co-president of the Parent-Teacher Organization at Lake Forest, said this is the second year they are doing an event during National Day of Service, with the idea of bringing parents and children together to serve the community.

“Logistically, it’s already a great day because we are already out of school, but then another is the idea of Martin Luther King Jr. Day is to bring everyone together in a non-violent peaceful way to serve each other and to live as one community,” Wynn said.

One blessing box will be place at the school, while the locations of the other two are still to be determined. Wynn said the boxes are similar to free little libraries, but will contain food and toiletries for those who need them. She hopes the community gets involved, as well.

“If you drive by a blessing box and open the doors and see it’s empty, you can go to the store and put it in. You don’t have to sign up, you don’t have to register, you just leave it,” she said. “The hope is that anyone can use them and even children.”

The project is registered with the Disney Rewards Program and meets its criteria of having parents and students working together, Wynn said. For Luke Niday, being able to serve the community with his family on MLK Day is special.

“There are a lot of kids at this school who are doing very well and there are a lot of kids at this school who need a little extra help, so we are here to help those who need a little extra help,” Niday said. “I hope they just learn not to be selfish, we can help other people with the extra things God has given us and we can think about other people, not just about ourselves.”

Niday said a Day of Service is a great way to celebrate everything King did for the country. He hopes it teaches his children about different principles and how to be a caring person.

In the parking lot of Lake Forest, Micah Hollis was pressure washing the parking lot as part of the National Day of Service. Hollis said he was honored to participate and help improve the school grounds, especially with his children around.

“It’s very important that your kids get involved,” he said. “As a parent, you need to be involved to show your kid how important it is for them to be involved with improving their school and making their lives and their friend’s lives better.”