Volunteers help put together thousands of meals in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. (WLNE) — Volunteers helped put together 20,000 meals for students and families in Central Falls in honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

The food distribution was organized by the McKee Administration’s Commission for National and Community Service, ServeRI, the Rhode Island Department of Education, and the Segue Institute for Learning and the Outreach Program.

“It brings together a community, and I really think that Martin Luther King Jr. wanted us all to be a community and support one another,” said AmeriCorps member Donte McLain.

More than one hundred AmeriCorps members and community volunteers joined thousands of others across the country in stepping up to serve at Segue Institute for Learning in Central Falls.

Volunteers gathered to help the community on what would have been Dr. King’s 95th birthday.

Among the volunteers in Central Falls were Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, General Treasurer James Diossa, and Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo.

“These meals may be going to some of our families that may be going to our food pantry as well as other food pantries here in Central Falls,” said Alexis Kutenplon-Rayess, after school program coordinator.

Education officials said the holiday, recognized as a day of service, is “a call to act on his legacy of social justice and equity and recommit by volunteering to serve others.”

“Through service we can strengthen ties to our communities and one other while we address critical issues,” education officials said.