Carla Clark | For The Republic Whittney Wood-Gaines gives the community announcements for Black History Month during the 2025 Community Church Service hosted by the African American Pastor’s Alliance for Black History Month at the Commons, Columbus, Ind., February 2, 2025.
This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the community is coming together to advocate and make Columbus a better place for everyone.
Monday starts with the 29th annual MLK Jr. Day Breakfast, to begin at 8 a.m. at The Commons, featuring remarks from community leaders, a keynote speech and scholarships awarded to local students.
Then throughout the day, dozens of volunteers will be putting Dr. King’s legacy into action by helping out around the community as part of national MLK Jr. Day of Service, which United Way of Bartholomew County participates in every year. Volunteer opportunities offered this year include sorting at Sans Souci, cleaning the Youth Camp at Foundation for Youth, stocking and packing at Love Chapel’s food pantry and more.
“The MLK Jr. Day of Service reflects the giving spirit Dr. King lived out every day,” Volunteer Action Center director Alicia Monroe said. “By offering more opportunities than ever before, United Way and the Volunteer Action Center are inviting our entire community to honor his legacy through action and help make Bartholomew County a better place to live.”
Registration for the MLK Jr. Day of Service has ended, but the MLK Jr. Day Breakfast program is free to attend. A free hot buffet breakfast will be served at 8 a.m.
The theme of this year’s program, organized by the African American Pastors Alliance, is “I Am My Brother’s Keeper.” This theme refers to how many people have gone above and beyond in the past year to help their neighbors in a time of job loss and access to food stamps. Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. special education teacher Whittney Wood-Gaines will serve as this year’s keynote speaker, with her speech tying into this year’s theme.
Wood-Gaines serves at the Turning Point Domestic Violence shelter, the Brighter Days homeless shelter and the Department of Child Services. She serves as a board member for Foundation for Youth and The Arc of Bartholomew County, a co-advisor for the NAACP Youth Council branch and is heavily involved in organizing Columbus Black History Month events.
“And then she also works with a group called Paths to Success, she’s kind of a coordinator for that group,” Columbus Annual MLK Day committee chair Fred King said. “And that’s a group that works with Black and Black biracial students to help them with academics, STEM projects, just help them prepare for college, more or less.”
Wood-Gaines’ work has been honored with several awards and nominations for her leadership and service, such as the 2025 Women in Leadership Award presented by the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce. She is also the mother of five children and a Columbus native, having graduated from Columbus East High School in 2004.
Mayor Mary Ferdon and BCSC Superintendent Chad Phillips will also offer community updates and brief remarks during the program. Six local students will also be awarded a $1,000 scholarship from Ivy Tech Community College – Columbus, based on financial need, academic performance, extracurricular activities and community involvement.
