Event to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Tri-Cities. Here’s what else is happening

Community members can pay tribute to the lasting legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. at a Monday bell ringing ceremony on the Columbia Basin College campus.

The annual event begins at 5:30 p.m. at the MLK Jr. statue outside the Lee R. Thornton Center (T Building). The bell ringing will be led by Miss Juneteenth Queen Alyssa Dunstan and then the event moves inside the Gjerde Center for the presentation of the college’s Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit Award.

The event this year will feature an art gallery highlighting civil rights history and Black artists, information about MLK Jr.s’ life, choir and spoke word poetry performances, and some light refreshments and free boxed food from HoneyBaked Ham Company. Anyone is welcome to attend.

The recipient of the 2024 Spirit Award is Joseph “Joe” Thornton, founder of the youth mentorship nonprofit Big Bro Joe Foundation. His story will be highlighted Monday in the Tri-City Herald eEdition and on the tricityherald.com website.

The award is bestowed on someone in the Tri-Cities community who strongly believes in equality and social justice and whose contributions to society reflect the spirit, philosophy and teachings of the late civil rights icon.

The statue of King was erected at the college at 2600 N. 20th Ave. in Pasco more than three decades ago.

MLK Jr. Day of Service

Thousands of service projects also are planned across the country on Monday as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

At least one of those will take place in the Tri-Cities.

About 30 AmeriCorps members with Serve Tri-Cities will provide games, crafts and tasty treats to residents of Luther Senior Center in Richland, starting at 11 a.m.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated as a “National Day of Service” to encourage Americans to volunteer to honor the life and legacy of King and improve their communities, according to a news release.

The MLK Jr. Day of Service shines a spotlight on service as a powerful force to bridge economic and social divides.

“Today we answer Dr. King’s call to serve and are making a difference in the lives of Luther Senior Center’s residents,” said Dyann Trujillo, program director of Serve Tri-Cities, in a statement. “A resourceful way to meet local needs, volunteer service is a powerful tool that builds strong communities. We are putting the core American principles of citizenship and service into action.”

Serve Tri-Cities is one of 24 organizations in Washington that have AmeriCorps programs throughout the 2023-24 service year. More than $24 million in federal grants help support 1,500 AmeriCorps members serving in Washington state.

Serve Tri-Cities has been a part of student success in Pasco School District for 30 years by putting on family events and assisting hundreds of K-5 students with their academics.

Alpha Kappa Alpha sock fundraiser

The Psi Nu Omega chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority will be accepting new pairs of socks for men, women and children.

The fundraiser is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday at Columbia Center mall, 1321 N. Columbia Center Boulevard in Kennewick.

Their goal is to raise 1,500 pairs for those in need. That’s triple their goal last year.

All donations will be distributed to agencies providing homeless resources.

Free food distribution for homeless

The Tri-Cities Diversity and Inclusion Council will distribute food and essential items to the homeless and those struggling with housing Saturday, Jan. 20.

This fourth-annual, free drive-through resource event is 10 a.m. to noon at the Gesa Stadium parking lot, 6200 Burden Boulevard in Pasco.

The event is being sponsored by Lutheran Community Services Northwest, HAPO Community Credit Union and more than a dozen other local businesses and organizations.