More than 50 years have passed since Martin Luther King Jr. was felled by an assassin’s bullet in the summer of 1968. But the legacy of the slain Civil Rights leader lives on in service projects around the nation, including the Islamic Relief USA meal-packing event Jan. 19 at Episcopal High School.
Islamic Relief USA volunteers prepare jambalaya packages during the Jan. 19 Day of Service at Episcopal High School honoring Martin Luther King Jr. More than 100,000 packages will be distributed to food banks across the country
According to the Alexandria Gazette, "Three hundred volunteers spent the day packing 100,000 meals that will be distributed domestically to various food banks and shelters. The meals consist of red lentil jambalaya that is popular among the local communities served by IRUSA."
Yasim Faisal, Mid-Atlantic volunteer coordinator for Islamic Relief USA said, "Today is all about celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. We have never before done a project on this scale or had this many volunteers for one project. Both are milestones for us."
As per Alexandria Gazette, "Based in Alexandria, Islamic Relief USA is a nonprofit humanitarian and advocacy organization. According to its website, its mission is to provide relief and development in a dignified manner regardless of gender, race, or religion, and to empower individuals in their communities and give them a voice in the world."