DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond speaks during the annual DeKalb County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration at The Gallery at South DeKalb in greater Decatur on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.
By Dean Hesse, contributor
DeKalb County, GA — DeKalb County commemorated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr over the MLK holiday weekend by distributing thousands of food boxes and in-home COVID-19 rapid test kits to residents at several locations around the county.
On Saturday, Jan. 15, 3,500 boxes containing produce, chicken hindquarters and a dozen eggs were given out at six DeKalb churches and on Monday, Jan. 17 the county held its annual MLK Day celebration at The Gallery at South DeKalb before dispensing 10,000 COVID-19 rapid test kits there and at two other locations. The start time for Monday’s events was delayed from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. due to the weather, and a parade set for noon was canceled. DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond told Decaturish, “I felt like we had to do it,” referring to the COVID-19 rapid test kit distribution.
“There is no better way to spend King Day than saving lives,” he added.
During the annual MLK Day celebration, Thurmond presented Nathaniel Mosby Humanitarian Awards to the following health care professionals: Dr. Sandra Elizabeth Ford, former Director of the Dekalb County Board of Health, presently serving in Washington, DC as Special Assistant to the President for Public Health and Science;Jeff Taylor, CEO of MedCura Health; and co-founders of the Clarkston Community Health Center Dr. Gulshan Harjee and Dr. Saeed Raees.
DeKalb Police recruit D. Feleke directs cars during a food distribution at Rehoboth Baptist Church in Tucker on Saturday, Jan. 15. 2022. A total of 3,500 food boxes were given out at six churches that day as part of DeKalb County’s weekend of service commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Five hundred boxes containing produce, chicken hindquarters and eggs were passed out to residents during a food distribution at Rehoboth Baptist Church on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. A total of 3,500 food boxes were given out at six churches that day as part of DeKalb County’s weekend of service commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Photo by Dean Hesse.
DeKalb Police recruits load boxes filled with produce, meat and eggs into cars at Rehoboth Baptist Church in Tucker during a food distribution on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. A total of 3,500 food boxes were given out at six churches that day as part of DeKalb County’s weekend of service commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Photo by Dean Hesse.
DeKalb Police recruits load boxes filled with produce, meat and eggs into cars at Rehoboth Baptist Church in Tucker during a food distribution on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. A total of 3,500 food boxes were given out at six churches that day as part of DeKalb County’s weekend of service commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Dressed for the frigid weather, Debra Gaspard stepped out of her car for a few minutes while waiting in line for DeKalb County’s MLK Day COVID-19 rapid test kit distribution to start at The Gallery at South DeKalb in greater Decatur to start on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Sharon Ferguson, who said she had been waiting in her car over an hour for the MLK Day COVID-19 rapid test kit distribution to start, listens to the entertainment and speakers with nephews Jakobe Atkinson and Trewh Clemons (r) during DeKalb County’s Martin Luther, King, Jr. Day celebration at The Gallery at South DeKalb in greater Decatur on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Strong wind required the assistance of several county workers to keep the stage backdrop in place during DeKalb County’s annual Martin Luther, King, Jr. Day celebration at The Gallery at South DeKalb in greater Decatur on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Joseph “Jack” Lumpkin, deputy chief operating officer of public safety for DeKalb County assists with the MLK Day COVID-19 rapid test kit distribution at The Gallery at South DeKalb in greater Decatur on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.
DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond hands a COVID-19 rapid test kit to a resident during the MLK Day distribution at The Gallery at South DeKalb in greater Decatur on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.
DeKalb Police recruits load boxes filled with produce, meat and eggs into cars at Rehoboth Baptist Church in Tucker during a food distribution on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. A total of 3,500 food boxes were given out at six churches that day as part of DeKalb County’s weekend of service commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Photo by Dean Hesse.
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