To commemorate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Lafayette-Oxford-University community and numerous organizations have planned out a full day’s worth of events for a National Day of Service.

The remembrance starts at 9 a.m. at Second Baptist Church with a free community breakfast while supplies last. Following this, at 10:30, Brian Foster, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Southern Studies at the University of Mississippi will be delivering a keynote address at Burns-Belfry Museum and Multicultural Center alongside the Community Volunteer Awards. These awards will be presented to members of the LOU community, Oxford High School and a University of Mississippi student.

During this time at Burns-Belfry, “living history community stories” will also be available for the public. These stories will help tell what it was like to live in Northern Mississippi during the Civil Rights era.

At 1:30 p.m., there will be a community showing of the film “Selma” followed by a discussion with the William Winter Institute in the Oxford Conference Center Auditorium.

From 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Chili’s will be having a community give back night to benefit for Interfaith Compassion Ministries benefiting the Oxford Housing Authority. Guests must mention the give back night in order for Interfaith to get credit. Simultaneously, Chick-fil-A will be holding the same campaign from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. You must order from the Chick-fil-A app, Chick-fil-A One, for ICM to get a percentage of the funds.

Throughout Monday, and at every event during the day, a community food drive will benefit Abundant Truth Salt & Light Ministries in Taylor. Donations can be made directly to their organization at 485 CR 303.

Closing out the day’s events, an hour-long legacy celebration will be held at Second Baptist Church beginning at 5:30 p.m. The speaker for the evening will be Dr. Charles Ross, Chair of the African American Studies Program at the University.

Kaitlin Wilkinson, the Director of Volunteer Oxford says that putting together the Day of Service came together seamlessly.

“Collaborating with the different organizations around the LOU community is a great experience,” she said. “This is my first year doing MLK Day and my hopes is that this event brings the community together to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy like it should be.”