West Chester, Liberty townships mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday

Sue Kiesewetter
·2 min read

WEST CHESTER TWP. – The in-person march is returning to this year’s celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in West Chester and Liberty townships.

Monday’s one-mile March for Unity in our Community begins at 10 a.m., leaving from the back corner of the West Chester Township’s Cabela’s parking lot, 7250 Cabela Dr., ending at the Liberty Center in Liberty Township.

“We’re starting in West Chester and marching into Liberty Township as a way to tie the two communities together symbolically,’’ said Gail Webster, longtime organizer of the Live the Dream: Our Declaration of Unity celebration.

Marchers will cross Liberty Way at the Tyler’s Place Boulevard crosswalk to Liberty Center. The march hoops around the center going west, north and back east to the center’s Living Room, 7100 Foundry Row.

There, a brief ceremony with donuts and hot chocolate provided by Meijers will be held before participants are encouraged to go out and eat a meal at one of the center’s restaurants with someone they met on the walk.

As a carryover from COVID-19 protocols, this year’s program will be virtual, broadcast beginning at noon on West Chester Township’s YouTube channel with a link on its website, westchesteroh.org.

During the program, Independence Elementary School fourth grader Elliana Mosteller will read her essay in this year’s Unsung Heroes-themed student contest.

Food drive planned through next month

In conjunction with the observance, an extended food drive will be held through Black History Month, ending Feb. 28. You can drop off nonperishable items at these locations:

  • West Chester Township administration building, 9113 Cincinnati-Dayton Road.

  • MidPointe Library branches: 9369 Centre Pointe Dr., West Chester; and 7100 Foundry Row, Liberty Township.

  • Edge Teen Center, 7568 Wyandot Lane, Liberty Township.

  • West Chester/Liberty Chamber Alliance, 8922 Beckett Road, West Chester Township.

Needed items include:

  • Cleaning supplies.

  • Diapers (sizes five and six in particular),

  • Masa flour.

  • Rice.

  • Peanut butter.

  • Jelly.

  • Pancake mix and syrup.

  • Pinto beans.

  • Personal care items.

  • Toilet paper.

  • Tissues.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: West Chester, Liberty Martin Luther King Jr. Day observances set