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Gene Kennedy ReportingVolunteers all over the valley visiting the poor and disabled, bringing them food. They feel that's what Dr. King would have done.
The nation today celebrated what would have been the 78th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Many Utahns honored the civil rights leader in service to people who need help.
Rev. France Davis, Calvary Baptist Church: "And so I came as a visible reminder that our country is made up of people from diverse backgrounds. And that the legislature ought to be thinking, ‘I believe about how to insure that the rights of all of our citizens are being taken care of.'…the reminder comes loud and clear, that we still have a lot of work to do. That it's not about just a particular group of people, but about all of the citizens of our community."
This is the place where age doesn't matter...neither does the color of your skin, or how much money you make. At the Utah Food Bank, this slice of working America is here for one reason: to feed those in need.
Michele Johnson, Volunteer: "We did this a couple years ago. It's very rewarding and part of a service activity for us."
They say it's a "day on", not a "day off." Three-hundred volunteers will personally deliver food boxes to 200 clients.
Kori Shaw, Utah Food Bank: "The majority of the clients are elderly women that make an income or 600-dollars or less."
Sophia Jin, Senior, West High School: "It's really nice to talk to the people you're helping...it's really an intimate thing almost."
Mike Styles, MLK Human Rights Commission: "The thing that's so fascinating is all the young people who are picking up that baton and leading the band, it's pretty impressive."
Mayor Rocky Anderson: "They're people who instead of taking a day off they recognize this should be a day of service they make such a difference in the lives of other people."
Mayor Anderson thinks it's exactly what Dr. King would have wanted. And he's not the only one with that opinion.
Mike Styles: "Its grassroots, and that embodies Doctor Martin Luther King's dream."
Last year, the Utah Food Bank had about 300 volunteers. Food bank officials believe they've had more than that today.
I've heard several people say they really believe this "Day of Service" is growing.
