LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — The Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission will be having a Juneteenth Food Giveaway at the Jacksonville Community Center.
From 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 5 Municipal Dr, Jacksonville, Arkansas 72076, the AMLKC will distribute over 10,000 pounds of protein and food items free of charge to the community to commemorate the federal observance of the Juneteenth holiday.
According to a news release, the volunteer base will be comprised of fathers from across the state as part of the Commission’s statewide initiative with Arkansas Better Dads to promote fatherhood’s importance.
Arkansas Better Dads help men become better dads by inspiring them, providing instruction, and creating opportunities for interaction with their families, a news release said.
“The Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission will observe Juneteenth as a day to give back and promote the importance of families and service,” says DuShun Scarbrough, Executive Director. Through this one single event, we can directly and indirectly serve thousands of families, many who are facing food insecurity. It is important to celebrate this milestone in history, and equally important to model the Juneteenth spirit which was geared towards community building and working towards a sustainable future.
It’s dual purpose was to celebrate the holiday while also bringing the community together.
“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. motto was, ‘Anybody can be great because anybody can serve’,” said Gerald Canada, Arkansas MLK Commission board member. “In leu of what this city has gone through, we are just honored to give back a little bit with food and activities.”
Canada said their goal as an organization is to bring communities together across the state.
“My hope is that we can touch every creed, every race, not make this biased, but just bring back togetherness in the state,” said Canada. “We are hoping with the commissioner’s help with the vision of DuShun Scarbrough, we can make that happen.”
Dept. of Education Secretary Jacob Oliva said it is important to continue to educate the youth on the Juneteenth holiday.
“Even though recently it has been made a federal holiday, it has something that has been celebrated for decades,” said Oliva. “Even learning about people here in the community that have been celebrating this holiday as far back as 1990. Anytime we can rally around the community and share a history and better society, it is something we are happy to be a part of.”
The news release said food items will be given on a first come first serve basis while supplies last.
Juneteenth is a holiday that recognizes when slaves in Galveston, Texas were informed by Union soldiers under Major General Gordon Granger that the war had ended and that they were free two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
The news release said that Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States.
In 2021, the President declared Juneteenth a federal holiday.
