This weekend, many of us will honor Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday on January 15 with a holiday from school or work. Dr. King dedicated his life to equality for all and in 1964 received the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality in our nation through the techniques of nonviolence and civil disobedience. He is an American hero whose life was cut short by an assassin’s bullet on April 4, 1968.
Dr. King once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’” Each year, Americans across the country answer that question by coming together on the King Holiday to serve their neighbors and communities through a day of service.
This year, I will be joining with volunteers from the Human Rights Campaign to help assemble care bags for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender homeless youth served by San Diego Youth Services. Estimates are that at least 40% of the homeless young people on our streets are LGBT and they urgently need basic items to help them survive.
I invite you to join me on Sunday, January 19th, from noon to 4 pm at Hess Brewery, 3158 Grim Ave, San Diego, 92104. Please RSVP to info@hrcsandiego.org. You can also donate items needed by these young people by dropping them off at that time or contacting that email address.
The items most needed are:
- New and unused thick socks and underwear
- Unopened travel-sized toiletries, including toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, dental floss, lip balm, lotion, and wet wipes
- Hats and gloves
- Bus passes
- Batteries
I hope that each of you who has the MLK Holiday off enjoys spending time with family and friends. And to everyone who can be of service to our community this weekend, I thank you. Together we make San Diego a better place for everyone.
TONI ATKINS
Majority Leader
78th Assembly District
POINT LOMA & OB DEMS 