In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the local graduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha participated in a national Day of Service to help the Jefferson City community.
AKA is the oldest Greek-letter organization founded by Black women and currently has more than 75,000 active members.
The Gamma Epsilon Omega chapter, Jefferson City's graduate chapter, celebrated 80 years in December.
Each year, the entire organization participates in a Day of Service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, said Gamma Epsilon Omega member Mary Simmons, who has been with the organization for more than 50 years.
"It's part of our international office's initiatives to be of service and be engaged to help the disenfranchised and to eliminate some of the disparities within our communities," Simmons said.
The Alpha Kappa Alpha organization's mission is focused on being of service to others and members participate in acts of service year-round.
"We're committed to bettering the lives of others," Simmons said. "When Martin Luther King was killed, he was out doing service in Memphis. So to carry out his dream, we always want to be on the forefront of service."
While the organization always participates in an MLK Day of Service, it was altered this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Typically, chapter members would go out into the community and participate in a service event, but due to Centers For Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, they had to change methods.
"We saw these needs in our community where we could collect items and a member of our organization could present them," Simmons said.
Chapter members raised $1,700 for Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church, a historic Black church in Holts Summit. The church was vandalized and damaged in November 2020, and the donated funds will help with its recovery.
Members also collected 61 pairs of eyeglasses to donate to the Optimist Club of Jefferson City, more than 100 books for the Missouri Department of Corrections and more than 30 towels for the Jefferson City Animal Shelter.
The chapter has other upcoming and continuing acts of service planned in the community including work with the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson City and Building Community Bridges.