Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson is leading a day of service to Augusta’s homeless population Monday, Jan. 16 to honor the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Service has the power to unite people regardless of race, religion or zip code, which is exactly what Dr. King stood for,” Johnson said in a statement.
King stressed service to others in a 1957 speech in Montgomery, Ala.: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” he said.
The mayor’s office cited findings from Augusta’s 2020 point-in-time count, which found 512 Augustans were experiencing homelessness and as a result, more likely to suffer with poor hygiene and health and food insecurity.
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To address the hygiene issues, the mayor’s office is partnering with Project Refresh, The Augusta nonprofit that provides mobile shower units to those in need.
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“While it may just seem like a shower to some, we are confident that we provide a bit of hope to those we serve,” said Brittany Hutto, founding member of Project Refresh. “We believe that collaboration is the key to greater impact here in Augusta, and we are excited to partner with our mayor and community leaders.”
Hunger is a problem among the homeless and beyond – one in eight Augustans suffers from food insecurity, including one in five children, the mayor’s office said. Last year, Golden Harvest Food Bank distributed almost 12 million meals, and guests at its soup kitchen, the Master’s Table, increased by 23%, it said.
“We are extremely grateful to Mayor Johnson for joining us on the front lines of tackling food insecurity in Augusta,” said Amy Breitmann, president and CEO of Golden Harvest Food Bank. “It’s really special to us and those that we serve to see the mayor involved in our mission of building a hunger-free tomorrow.”
Volunteers will work with the nonprofits Monday to provide showers, new clothes, hygiene kits and a hot meal to those suffering from homelessness. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service, and Americorps has led the volunteer effort for 25 years.
Susan McCord is a staff writer with The Augusta Press. Reach her at susan@theaugustapress.com
