MLK Days of Service Collaboration with UTK Jones Center
The Alliance was honored to be a part of the UTK’s Jones Center MLK National Day of Service volunteer series by hosting two different workday events. This year marked the 25th Annual MLK Days of Service at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville! MLK Days of Service is committed to serving the community by connecting with local non-profits in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This series embodies the importance of living out the legacy of Dr. King by volunteering and supporting our community.
We were very lucky to have two beautiful February days to host these true VOLunteers at the Pastor Richard S. Brown Jr. Community Garden. At our first event on February 9, Green Heron Compost, one of our amazing community partners, came with their motorized compost sifter to facilitate this garden task. Volunteers were able to add sifted compost to about 36 beds in preparation for the 2026 growing season. They also helped weed beds and turn over cover crops, setting the stage for a productive year ahead.
During our second workday on February 20, student volunteers laid cardboard in the rows surrounding the garden beds and topped it with wood chips. This is a crucial task needed to suppress weeds to keep them out of the beds as we move into the growing season.
We are grateful to the UTK Jones Center for all of the student volunteers who brought such energy, passion, and dedication to working so hard prepping the gardens for what we hope will be a record breaking year in the garden in 2026 and look forward to participating with the UTK Jones Center in MLK Days of Service for years to come!
