(PHOTOS) DeKalb County honors MLK by distributing food, COVID-19 test kits
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.
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 County Chief of Police Mirtha Ramos assists with traffic control during DeKalb County’s 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.
Eight-year-old Hayden Hurds peers from the sunroof as she waits in the car with her father Dan Hurds for the line to start moving during DeKalb County ‘s 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.
Retired broadcast journalist Monica Kaufman Pearson emcees 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.
Presiding officer of the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, District 1 Commissioner Robert Patrick 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.
DeKalb County Super District 7 Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson 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.
Entertainer Milkshake Mayfield performs “What a Wonderful World” 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.
Priscilla Johnson reacts to the music of entertainer Milkshake Mayfield with DeKalb County District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson as she waits in her car for the MLK Day COVID-19 rapid test kit distribution to begin at The Gallery at South DeKalb in greater Decatur on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Frontline health care workers with MedCura Health wave as the company’s CEO Jeff Taylor recognizes them after he was presented with the Nathaniel Mosby Humanitarian Award by DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond 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. Taylor said, “I want everybody to know the front lines have been doing the hard work in the community for almost two years in the heat and in the cold.” Photo by Dean Hesse.
Clarkston Community Health Center CMO & co-founder Dr. Gulshan Harjee was presented with the Nathaniel Mosby Humanitarian Award by DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond 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. Dr. Saeed Raees, Clarkston Community Health Center CEO & co- founder was also presented with the Mosby award. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Cars queue up in the parking lot at The Gallery at South DeKalb in greater Decatur for DeKalb County’s MLK Day COVID-19 rapid test kit distribution on Monday Jan. 17, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.
DeKalb Fire Rescue recruits hand out COVID-19 rapid test kits to residents during DeKalb County’s MLK Day COVID-19 rapid test kit distribution at The Gallery at South DeKalb in greater Decatur on Monday Jan. 17, 2022. The test kits were also given out that day at North DeKalb Mall and Plaza Fiesta. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Residents line up to receive COViD-19 rapid test kits during DeKalb County’s MLK Day distribution event at The Gallery at South DeKalb in greater Decatur on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. The test kits were also given out that day at North DeKalb Mall and Plaza Fiesta. Photo by Dean Hesse.
DeKalb police officers direct cars during DeKalb County ‘s MLK Day COVID-19 rapid test kit distribution at The Gallery at South DeKalb in greater Decatur on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. The test kits were also given out that day at North DeKalb Mall and Plaza Fiesta. Photo by Dean Hesse.
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