Gateway Regional Arts Center Hosts MLK Day of Service Arts & Food Event to Curb Hunger

Written By Jill Kohr

On this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, January 15, 2024, the Gateway Regional Arts Center commemorates the life of Dr. King and reflects on his dream for equality and civil rights for all people. We recognize that the iconic civil rights leader’s passionate and persistent fight for equality and against discrimination paved the way for the disability community to advance and persevere in its ongoing fight for equality, rights, and inclusion.

The Gateway Regional Arts Center, along with their community partners, are proud to announce a community service opportunity open to all residents of Montgomery County and surrounding counties through a federal grant with AmeriCorps and The Arc. “I Have a Dream: Feeding the Soul An Arts & Food Community Celebration'' will take place on January 15, 2024 and will last from 2pm - 6pm in Mt. Sterling. Partners for the event include DuBois Community Center, Sterling Food Coalition, The Arc, and AmeriCorps.

January and February are the slowest months in food donations for the Sterling Food Coalition. The MLK Day of Service event hopes to bring an influx of donations, while energizing the region with creative and artistic activities for youth and adults. Activities at the event include free art activities to learn about MLK and his dream, Food Basket Packing for those in need in our communities, free creative cooking classes taught by a regional chef from Kentucky, and a free bowl-making pottery workshop. Refreshments will be available and a community meal will be provided to all attendees, courtesy of numerous restaurant sponsors. 

The event is free, but GRAC is asking attendees to bring non-perishable food items. Below is a list of the most needed non-perishable food items.

Types of non-perishable food items that are needed:

  • Canned foods (e.g. Black Beans, peas, corn, mixed vegetables)

  • Peanut Butters

  • Canned fish and poultry

  • Nuts and seeds

  • Rice, Grains

  • Granola, protein bars, oatmeal

  • Soups

  • Pasta, pasta sauce

  • Flour, Sugar

  • Spices, Cooking oils (Olive Oil, Canola Oil)

  • Processed foods in uncontaminated, sealed packaging

Those looking to volunteer their time for those in our communities can go here.

Jill Kohr
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