DALLAS – People celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in a variety of ways.
Many use the day off to attend parades, and others use it to be of service to their community.
A typically serene Mount Olive Cemetery in Lewisville was buzzing with action Monday morning. Hundreds of volunteers showed up to help clean up the historic Black cemetery.
“This is something Dr. King would want us to do is come together and work in the community,” said organizer Jackie Shaw. “That’s what this day is all about.”
Founded in the 1880s, the cemetery is believed to be the site of as many as 134 graves.
Demhetric Freeney’s mother was buried there just last year. Some of his family friends help keep up the cemetery year-round.
People like Jonathan Crawford brought his entire family to volunteer.
“Hopefully show our girls what it’s like to give back and be a part of the community,” he said.
Acts of service come in many forms.
At Concord Church Dallas, cars and buses full of volunteers lined up to deliver hot meals to inbound seniors and people in hospice care.