The march, the theme of which is “Pursuing the Dream,” will begin at 10 a.m., Jan. 19 at New Jerusalem Baptist Church, 1958 Dogwood Road. Participants will walk down Dogwood to North Road, then down Wisteria Drive. Participants will then cross Highway 78 where the march will end at South Gwinnett High School.
Once at SGHS, the first 200 participants will be treated to a turkey dinner and entertainment by local choirs inside the school cafeteria. The event is sponsored by New Jerusalem Baptist Church, Stone Mountain Volkswagen, Mayor Kelly D. Kautz and the city of Snellville.
“This is a vision that (New Jerusalem Baptist Church Pastor Elijah Collins) and I had four years ago,” Kautz said. “It is rewarding to see our vision a growing reality. Everyone in the community benefits from taking a moment to reflect and remember the messages of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. which are still relevant to our community and our nation today.”
Participants for this year’s event are asked to bring canned food items to benefit the Overcomer’s House, a local non-profit organization that feeds and clothes families in the Snellville community. The Overcomer’s House Food Pantry will be open during the celebration in the Kmart parking lot on Wisteria Drive for those in need.
Collins said the benefit of the event is two-fold: Marchers honor the legacy of King while helping those in need.
“The day is important especially with everything the nation at large has had to deal with in the past few months,” the pastor said. “It’s a way to unify the community and fulfill the dream of Dr. King. It lets us know there is still hope in the dream. We are not giving up on the dream Dr. King spoke so much about.”
The march is open to everyone. For more information visit www.njbchurch.org.
