Every year on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a local church gathers vendors, churchgoers, church elders, and anyone who wanders in for a sense of community and resources.
“Dr. King seemed to fight for freedom and we appreciate that, of course, our church is a really diverse congregation, people from all walks of life,” said Steven Weathers, an elder at Strong Tower Church.
The Strong Tower Church held its annual block party on the campus of Parker Street Ministries.
“Just servicing, loving one another, being there for one another,” Community Health Coordinator at Lakeland Regional Health Ahmad Black said.
For the staff, doctors, and community health advocates at Lakeland Regional Health, a way to be there for people is through free health screenings.
“We are the community hospital so it’s so important for us to be out here, doing those preventative screenings, making sure our community is getting healthier,” the Director of Community Health at Lakeland Regional Health Lauren Springfield said.
The LRH team spent Dr. MLK Jr. Day volunteering at local organizations and providing blood pressure, cholesterol, and BMI screenings at Strong Tower Church’s block party.
“Access still continues to be a huge problem in our community,” said Springfield. “Our residents are here largely to solve that problem and try to lessen the blow on our community to help people get to the doctor.”
Barber Skate Shop offered free haircuts.
“I do it for the love and to see the smiles on people’s faces, the kids and stuff like that. I live in this community and my barber shop is in this community so this is the time we come out and give back,” said Jairus Rutherford, the owner of the barbershop.
For many, in his short life, Dr. King cemented a legacy of equality and country for all.
“He really pushed for the country to live up to the ideals that are written in the constitution and Declaration of Independence,” said Terry Coney, the President of the NAACP Lakeland branch.
Strong Tower Church elder Weathers said Dr. King’s legacy is a fight for freedom that is felt in his diverse congregation.
“Our country seems to be more polarized. I think Dr. King who sought to bring people together, even people who might not have thought like he did, may not have looked like he did,” said Weathers.
To some, there is still work left to do.
“We still have not come to a point in our country where we accept the diversity of our culture. We are still far away from what his dream is,” said Lesley Long, a church member.
Monday was the 30th annual National Day of Service in honor of Dr. King.