Monday, January 16th from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m. at the Beverly J. Martin School
Gymnasium, 302 W. Buffalo St.
Workshops and dessert follow the luncheon at the Greater Ithaca
Activities Center, 318 North Albany Street from 1:15 to 4:15 p.m.
This year's festivities will include a luncheon as well as an
opportunity to assist families devastated by the Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita. The luncheon, free to the public, will feature keynote
speaker Sean Eversley Bradwell, Assistant Professor in the Center for
the Study of Culture, Race & Ethnicity at Ithaca College and
performances by local choirs.
As a lead in to this year's event and to continue the tradition of Dr.
King's "Day of Service", we are asking individuals, agencies, church
groups, local businesses and others to assist families displaced in the
Gulfport and New Orleans areas by purchasing items they desperately
need. Special Guest Leetta Allen-Haynes from New Orleans will
speak at the event at 3:30 p.m. at GIAC.
1. The committee has identified over ten families who are in dire need
of clothing and items related to medical needs. We are trying to enlist
groups of individuals to "sponsor one family" and to recognize that not
every family was able to go home for the holidays. The items
identified by each family are quite minimal and families range in size
from 3 to 7 members from the very young to old.
2. Care packages are being assembled for each family that will contain
donated items of health & personal care products. Items
needed include soap, deodorant, lotion, shave cream and razors,
African-American hair care products—shampoo and conditioner, etc Items
can be dropped off from January 9th through the 12th, Monday—Thursday
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the following locations. Items can also be
brought to the celebration.
GIAC at 318 N. Albany Street
Cornell Public Service Center, 200 Barnes Hall, Cornell Campus
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, 615 Willow Avenue
CRESP at 119 Anabel Taylor Hall, Cornell Campus
Greenstar Cooperative Market, 701 W. Buffalo Street
3. Tax-deductible contributions are also welcomed as the committee has
a goal of raising monetary funds for each family. Checks can be
made payable to “CRESP, c/o MLK Katrina”.
Please contact Amy Somchanhmavong at 254-8072 to receive information
about assisting a family or volunteering on the day of the event.
The day is organized by the Greater Ithaca Activities Center; the
Multicultural Resource Center; the Center for Religion, Ethics and
Social Policy at Cornell; the Cornell Public Service Center; the
Greenstar Cooperative Market, Ithaca College's Office of Multicultural
Affairs, Campus Life at Cornell University; Ithaca College's Center for
Student Leadership and Involvement; and Cornell Cooperative Extension
of TC and community members. It is co-sponsored by the City of
Ithaca.
