Saturday Program is Part of the Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Weekend
The City of Elgin’s Martin Luther King Jr. Committee will host its annual celebration event virtually on the City’s Facebook page on Saturday, January 16, from 9:00 to 10:45 a.m. The event is open to the public, and donations are encouraged to support the committee’s community food drive and youth scholarship programs.
“The lessons and work of Dr. King are as, if not more, important today as we work to peacefully address and resolve social justice issues,” said committee co-chair Janice Hare. “I encourage all to tune into this year’s program to learn, to be inspired and to have hope for the future.”
The virtual MLK celebration event will feature music, speeches from community leaders, a panel discussion, prayers for peace and unity, the humanitarian award presentation and scholarship presentation.
Each year, the City of Elgin Human Relations Commission takes great pride in presenting a weekend of activities celebrating the life of one of our country’s greatest civil rights leaders, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year’s theme is “Let the bright day of justice emerge.” A branch of the commission, the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee, organizes several programs to carry on the legacy of Dr. King, including a youth scholarship program, food drive, youth day of service and prayer breakfast. These events have been altered from traditional formats due to the pandemic.
In past years, the prayer breakfast has been a ticketed event held at Elgin Community College, and any proceeds would go to its food drive and scholarship programs. In lieu of that option for raising funds this year, the committee is selling merchandise and has set up direct donation websites.
MLK Merchandise: cityofelgin.org/mlkmerch
Buy shirts, hats and masks to support the Martin Luther King Jr. Food Drive and Scholarship Program! Proceeds from every purchase will be donated to these two programs.
MLK Food Drive: cityofelgin.org/mlkfooddonations
For the past nine years, the Dr. King Food Drive has collected thousands of pounds of food for the less fortunate in our community. The committee’s 2021 goal is to collect and distribute 80,000 pounds of food and household items for our local food pantries. Every $1.00 donation collected equals 8 pounds of food. With your generous donation, we can reach our goal.
MLK Scholarship Program: cityofelgin.org/mlkyouthdonation
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship is awarded annually to students who have demonstrated an active interest and meaningful involvement in the areas of human rights, civil rights, social justice and/or world peace. Scholarships may also be awarded to students whose activities are exemplary and reflect the ideals and life of Dr. King. Donations help provide very deserving young people the ability to attend college and become successful, contributing leaders of our community. Donations can be made anytime throughout the year.
For more information, please contact Communications Manager Molly Gillespie at 847-931-5613 (O) or 224-762-0516 (C) or visit cityofelgin.org/mlk
