People across North Texas honored the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. with a day of work.
They used Dr. King’s legacy as an inspiration to make their community a better place.
On Monday, "Tarrant Churches Together" in Fort Worth and volunteers helped to feed families, clothe children, clean up a neighborhood, sack groceries and stock pantry shelves.
It’s all part of the 6th Annual TCT MLK Day of Service, who participated in the first Mayor's Week of Compassion.
Dr. King famously said that greatness is determined by service - and these volunteers said they'd like to think they have something great to help their own community.
"We got here around 10 a.m., so we’ve been here all morning,” volunteer Alyssa Laughlin.
The teen and her friend used the day off from school to meet up at Union Gospel Mission and feed hundreds of hungry people.
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"I love watching them when they get their food, they’re just so appreciative,” said another volunteer Hannah Looney.
Most of the teens lending a helping hand learned about Dr. King and his legacy to serve by reading about the civil leader.
Volunteer Skip Bennett has very vivid memories of Dr. King.
"I am one the people that back in the 60s marched with Dr. King in Birmingham," Bennett said.
Since then, Bennett and his wife pass on the tradition of serving to their children and grandchildren.
"We can serve because we are healthy, we’re blessed,” said Skip’s wife, Cathy Bennett.
And that includes the Bennett's grandchildren.
"They taught me and my sister to give back and we do this every year, said Zion Rodgers.
The 14-year-old said he enjoys volunteering and helping out his community.
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“People take for granted what they have and they don’t realize what they have until they see how everybody else is living,” said Rodgers.
Bennett imagines that’s what his hero Dr. King would ask him to do.
“He actually was willing to put his life on the line for that every day,” said Bennett.
