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Detroit — Frances Billingslea on Monday maneuvered a shopping cart filled to the brim with essentials, including a container of cleaning supplies, a new vacuum, and a fresh door lock with a deadbolt.
Poking out from the bottom of her folding cart was a small Norway spruce sapling. It was the icing on the cake for Billingslea, who visited the Kemeny Recreation Center on Monday to participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service event for a bit of assistance and joy.
“It’s extremely beneficial. I received a vacuum, which I truly required. I gathered some items for the home,” stated Billingslea, a longtime resident of the neighborhood for three decades. “Had my blood pressure checked. This event is fantastic.”
Promoted as a day “on” instead of a day off, the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday event was coordinated and supported by Wayne State University’s AmeriCorps Urban Safety Program and Marathon Petroleum Corp.
Over 100 individuals contributed their time to the event, which was one of numerous gatherings organized across Metro Detroit in honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. It assisted hundreds of Detroit residents with services, meals, and resources, including AmeriCorps community training for overdose rescue and a domestic violence support program.
State Rep Tyrone Carter, a Detroit Democrat and former AmeriCorps volunteer at Wayne State, mentioned that part of the day was intended to be devoted to securing an abandoned property in the Delray area, but the frigid temperatures shifted the focus indoors at the Kemeny Recreation Center.
“Today, similarly to what’s going on in D.C., we are bringing everything inside. What we’ve found is the need is immense, but the most challenging aspect is for people to seek assistance,” Carter remarked. “To observe numerous seniors arriving here this morning with smiles on their faces, knowing we could be at home watching TV or fretting about what’s next. Those are factors beyond our control. We have the ability to influence how we treat one another.”
The event was free for the community and featured a Wayne State Mobile Health Unit that monitored blood pressure, provided blood draws, flu vaccinations, and HIV tests. Activities for youth included painting and a performance by the Studio Detroit Dance. DJ Tyrone Barkley supplied the music.
Outdoors, volunteers braved sub-zero temperatures to distribute canned goods, fruits, milk, and other items to waiting cars. The food distribution was sponsored by Forgotten Harvest and Gleaners.
The distributors included Kevin Gordon and his son Tim. Kevin spent three hours outdoors handing out boxes yet he remained cheerful—beneath his scarf, winter hat, and hooded jacket.
“We’re doing wonderfully. There’s always something to be done, we are constantly on the move,” Kevin Gordon expressed. “It’s just an incredible experience.”
Tim Gordon, age 24, recently completed a year-long term with AmeriCorps and has secured a position as a research technician.
“This marks my second MLK day event with the center. It’s fantastic,” Tim Gordon mentioned. “Everyone is maintaining good spirits. We have hand warmers and we are active.”
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