Honoring Dr. King Through Service, Healing, and Community

A Day of Service: Many Hands, One Purpose

On Monday, January 19, 2026, we welcomed over 100 volunteers—neighbors, families, local groups and businesses, students, and longtime supporters—who showed up ready to serve. Together, they prepared 350+ blessing bags and 1,500+ sandwiches, all destined for our community fridge and neighbors experiencing food insecurity.

The room buzzed with generosity. Conversations flowed across tables as hands worked in rhythm—assembling, packing, labeling—each task an act of dignity and care. The volume of food prepared was remarkable, but the spirit behind it was even more so: people coming together to meet immediate needs while strengthening the bonds that sustain a community.

A Racial Healing Circle: Space to Be Seen and Heard

Later that day, we shifted from outward action to inward listening. Our Racial Healing Circle, facilitated by Gerri Hobdy, welcomed two dozen participants who committed to showing up with openness and honesty. In that shared space, people spoke of pain and fear, named grief and anger, and also lifted up joy and hope.

We were honored to partner with Power Coalition Arts Framework to feature an abbreviated Picture the Power Exhibit alongside the Storyline Exhibit, creating additional pathways for reflection and expression. These installations invited participants to engage with visual storytelling and to contribute their own lived experiences, ensuring that voices shared in the circle could also be witnessed, remembered, and held with care.

This circle was not about quick answers. It was about presence. About bearing witness to one another’s stories without interruption. About recognizing that racial healing is both deeply personal and inherently communal—and that creating space for truth-telling is itself an act of service.

Watch the Story Unfold

The video above features footage from the day—moments of service, connection, and reflection that words alone cannot fully capture. We invite you to watch, to feel the energy of the room, and to remember what is possible when community gathers with intention.

Gratitude and Continuity

We are deeply grateful to every volunteer, participant, and supporter who made this day possible. MLK Day reminded us that service and healing are not one-day efforts, but ongoing practices. At The Red Shoes, we remain committed to creating spaces where people can serve together, speak truthfully, and grow toward a more just and compassionate world.

If this day moved you, we invite you to stay connected through future service opportunities, circles of dialogue, and the many ways our community continues to show up for one another.