Savannah, GA—Hundreds of residents and parade units gathered to celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday morning.
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Savannah’s 44th annual MLK Jr. Day parade contained nearly 300 parade units according to MLK Jr. Observance Day Association President, Deborah Adams.
The parade incorporates organizations and residents from across the community. Each organization is encouraged to give back to those in need, including the association itself.
“We are an organization in that we work for the community. That’s not the bulk of it. We also give back to other organizations that are in need,” said Adams.
The funds raised from the parade contribute to the scholarships granted to graduating high school students in the area. It also allows the association to give back to organizations such as the Y.M.C.A, Savannah State University and the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum.
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With the hundreds of “organizations and individuals and churches that want to be a part of [the parade]” it is crucial “that they do what’s necessary in a timely manner,” said Adams.
“We had folks up until the day of the parade wanting to get in the parade, when you knew that we do have a cutoff time, and it’s imperative that they follow that timeline,” she said, adding that parade applications are available online as early as July 1.
Despite some of the chaos behind the scenes, the parade continues to be a day of community for Savannah residents.
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