MLK Jr.'s Legacy Inspires a Day of Service in Fresno

On the 25th anniversary of the first day of service celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy, scores of Fresno residents turned out to support their community.

For example, Mayor Lee Brand’s Keep Fresno Beautiful campaign benefited from 125 volunteers who made downtown and other locations sparkle Monday.
“We’re seeing more and more people from across the city, from all ages and all walks of life, willing to roll up their sleeves and spend a couple of hours to pick up trash, plant some trees and repaint fences,” said city spokesman Mark Standriff. “That’s the beauty of Keep Fresno Beautiful — it only takes a few minutes to make a big difference.”

Roosevelt High Students Paint the Mosqueda Center

Roosevelt High School students painted the Mosqueda Center and Vegan Fresno members planted trees at the Fresno Community Gardens on Belmont Avenue.
Elsewhere, the Downtown Partnership and Clean Fresno picked up trash downtown. And, the West Shaw Neighborhood Association teamed with LifeBridge Community Church and Starbucks to collect litter along Shaw Avenue from Highway 99 to Brawley Avenue.

⁦@fresnodowntown⁩ hosting 1 of several ⁦@KFBFresno⁩ events around the city on #nationaldayofservice. Thx also to ⁦@CleanFresno⁩ ⁦@ENPFresno⁩ ⁦@VeganFresno⁩ & West Shaw Neighborhood Assoc. for stepping up to clean and beautify Fresno! pic.twitter.com/ae1YURN52i

— Mark Standriff (@MarkStandriff) January 20, 2020

Volunteers Give ‘the Pov’ a Lift

More than 100 Kaiser Permanente employees and physicians and their family members made good on the reminder to make the holiday “a day on, not a day off.”
They worked at the Poverello House downtown. Some helped sort canned goods and prep food. Others painted and repaired sheds or cleaned up the grounds outside the homeless services shelter.
“It’s great to see an organization like Kaiser Permanente … here giving the day off to serve those in need right here in Fresno,” said Poverello House CEO Zachary Darrah. “It’s really special.”

Watch: Kaiser Employees Lend a Hand at Poverello House

Sunset Elementary School

At Sunset Elementary School in southwest Fresno, members of Central Valley Church of Christ and HOPE Worldwide teamed with staff and students on campus beautification projects.
“The life and work of Dr. King continue to inspire our students as they honor his memory with service efforts of their own,” said Fresno Unified Superintendent Bob Nelson.

Related Story: Black Americans Mostly Left Behind by Progress Since Dr. King's Death