A Day On, Not a Day Off: Mableton Honors Dr. King’s Legacy through Service

On Monday, January 19, Mableton proved once again that our community is built on a foundation of taking care of our town. To honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., neighbors from every corner of the city came together for a massive day of service.

I spent the holiday traveling around town to capture our community in action. It was a beautiful sight to see Mabletonians rolling up their sleeves to leave our community better than they found it.

Here are some of the highlights that defined the day.

1. Destiny World Church: A Massive Effort on Riverside

The Destiny World Church hosted an incredible MLK Day Of Service litter cleanup. A total of 86 volunteers came together, including members from the church, Austell Community Taskforce, Kids Care, Faces, the Rho Zeta Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, and the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. They were even joined by Cobb County Solicitor General Makia Metzger, Building Strong Horizons Inc, and the South Cobb Lions Club.

*Photos courtesy of Barry Krebs

This group of volunteers removed 81 bags of litter from Riverside Pkwy, Factory Shoals Road, South Gordon Road, and Lansky Werber Road. They were powered by the snacks, coffee, and drinks provided by the church, as well as the Precinct Two Police who kept traffic slow in areas where we were working.

2. My Green Earth & Habitat for Humanity: Growing a Greener Future

While some were cleaning the streets, others were working to transform the land. My Green Earth, Inc. and Habitat for Humanity NW Metro Atlanta spent the day working to turn an overgrown space in the Claxton Commons neighborhood, to a productive green space that will eventually produce food for the community.

This effort was a true showcase of regional collaboration. A huge thanks to Georgia Roof Advisors for your support and for bringing your fearless team out to make an impact! RCE Greater Atlanta team of interns also showed up from all across Metro Atlanta—including Morehouse College, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State University, Emory University, and Georgia State University. We’re honored you chose Mableton for this meaningful day of giving back.

3. Word of Faith: Giving Back at the EpiCenter

The Word Of Faith Church hosted their own MLK Day Of Service litter cleanup, starting at the Riverside EpiCenter. The crew did a fantastic job, removing 57 bags and a significant amount of debris from the lower section of Riverside Pkwy, South Service Road, Six Flags Road, and Cityview Drive.

*Photos courtesy of Barry Krebs

A special thanks to Dr. Yvonne Amos for making the arrangements and ensuring the day ran smoothly. The South Cobb Lions Club and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority were out in force at this site as well, proving that Mableton’s commitment to beautification is a shared one.

The "Beloved Community" in Action

It was a positive day for Mableton. Seeing such a large crowd of neighbors come out to hear the call to service and respond with action is exactly what Dr. King meant by the "Beloved Community."