MLK Food Drive and Exhibit

“How wonderful it is that nobody needs to wait a single moment before starting to improve the world?” – Martin Luther King Jr.

For many years the McKinney Center has worked to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a service project or event. We have hosted the Food Drive since 2022. To celebrate and remember Martin Luther King Jr., the McKinney Center invites the community to join them in a month-long service project. Between December 15th, 2025, and January 19th, 2026, you can donate food to the Jonesborough Area Ministerial Association (JAMA) Food Pantry by bringing your donations to the McKinney Center.

In addition to a service project, the McKinney Center has been proud over the past three years to partner with Johnson City Schools and Washington County Schools to host a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Student Art Show. The McKinney Center was built and opened in 1940 as the Booker T. Washington School and served African American students K-8th grade. It was a building that divided our community’s children and now it is a safe space to bring everyone together.

Students of all grade levels and abilities are encouraged to make artwork for the exhibit and will work directly with their art teachers at their respective schools to create the artwork for display.

Elementary School – Elementary students are encouraged to draw, paint or color artwork using any medium they’d like that we are able to display.

Middle School – Middle School students can also submit their artwork, or they can complete a group project or essay.

High School – High School students can submit artwork, an essay, group project, or they are encouraged to use video and photography to express their art.

The exhibition will be on public display January 19 – January 22, 8am – 5pm with a closing reception on Thursday, January 22, 6-8pm. Culinary Art

students will be providing light refreshments for the reception and the event is free and open to the public.

This event is one of many events honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the Day of Service on January 19, 2026. The MLK Planning Committee consists of the following partners:

  • LEAD
  • Langston Centre
  • Washington County Schools
  • Johnson City Schools
  • International Storytelling Center
  • Washington County Chamber of Commerce
  • City of Johnson City
  • Carver Recreation Center
  • Johnson City Ministerial Alliance
  • Town of Jonesborough
  • McKinney Center at Booker T. Washington School
  • 4thirteen