Friday, January 24, 2025
The Martin Luther King Jr. Center hosted a unique, collaborative and unifying Thanksgiving lunch and turkey giveaway on Saturday, Nov. 23.
The event, which took place at the center itself, at 615 Riverside Blvd., brought the community together to share a meal and provided turkeys for families in need during this festive holiday season.
The lunch and giveaway included a full, free Thanksgiving meal for anyone and everyone, served from 1 to 3 p.m., followed by turkey distribution from 2 to 4 p.m. The event also featured fun, family-friendly activities and opportunities for community connection.
Numerous volunteers helped ensure the day was a success. Usual MLK Center volunteers, Long Beach firefighters and others made the day go by smoothly, and even ensured some of the turkeys were dressed up in fire helmets.
The event was made possible through the support of local partners, including New Life Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ; Centrepoint Church; Evangel Revival Community Church; Christian Light Missionary Baptist Church; the City of Long Beach; the Long Beach Police Department; the Long Beach City Council; Long Beach Lions Club; Soup Kitchen; We Dream TV; La Cruzada Evangelica Misionera Church; Dems by the Sea; the North Park Civic Association; Assemblyman Ari Brown; State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick; Marcos Arias, owner of Next Level Auto Body; Max Almonte, Long Beach firefighter and treasurer of the MLK Center; Tommy Canner; Cliff Skudin of Skudin Surf; Beach to Bay; Devin Parker, superintendent of the Long Beach Sanitation Department; and St. Mary Catholic Church.
Through educational programs, outreach initiatives, and cultural events, the center honors Dr. King’s legacy by promoting service, compassion, and a spirit of togetherness.
For more information about the Thanksgiving Lunch and Turkey Giveaway, or to inquire about volunteering, contact the Martin Luther King Jr. Center at 516-240-2230 or info@lbmlk.org.
