On MLK Day each year, we typically join the community March organized by the Austin Area Heritage Council to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. The March has been cancelled this year in light of current COVID circumstances, but we still want to follow Dr. King’s leadership and celebrate his teachings. We will host a food drive at Pease Park in recognition of MLK Day that will support Central Texas Food Bank on Monday, January 17th.

We encourage you to participate in this food drive in one of two ways (or both!).

Sign up to help us collect the donated food items on January 17th. Two hour shifts are open for this volunteer job throughout the day. If you can help in this way, please register through our Volunteer page here.
Bring canned food donations to the park to contribute to our food drive on January 17th anytime between 9am and 5pm. Most needed items include:
- peanut butter
- canned chicken breast or tuna
- canned low sodium vegetables
- canned fruit in its own juice
- dry pinto beans
- brown rice
- dry pasta
- non-fat dry mild powder
- 100% whole grain cereal

Central Texas has a food insecurity rate of 17.3% and Central Texas Food Bank helps fill this need of nourishment for individuals and families. Last year, Central Texas Food Bank brought nearly 54 million meals to our community and into the hands of families and local nonprofits that need food assistance. 34% of food bank clients are children and teens and 64% of client households have at least one working adult.

To further recognize the importance of MLK Day, we also encourage you to check out the events that the Austin Area Heritage Council is hosting at Huston-Tillotson University. Learn more about these events here.