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Honoring the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. while emphasizing how every person can make a difference was the theme of Monday's luncheon at Rodeheaver Auditorium.
"Putting Feet to the Dream," a challenge to Kosciusko County to "help fill a need," the 17th annual program featured Fort Wayne television news anchor Terra Brantley as the keynote speaker.
Brantley's often emotional speech used turning points in her own life to illustrate how seemingly small acts can change other people's lives for the better.
"We need to ask ourselves, what do I really do to make a difference in my community," she said.
Her voice breaking at times, she spoke of a man she barely knew who, as a customer in a restaurant where she worked to earn money for college, gave her a tip of $1,500 so she could afford tuition.
"Because someone helped me when I needed it, I make it a point to help others," she said. "... I can relate to people who need a helping hand because I needed a helping hand, because without that, where would I be?"
Brantley challenged the attendees at the luncheon to recognize the needs in the community and to volunteer to help others, "to donate your time and talents in areas where you know you can help out."
"No matter how bad things are," she said, "there is someone out there worse off."
She challenged people to find the good in others, to look past prejudices ("because we all have them"), to practice kindness and optimism and to look beyond ourselves.
"God did not put us here to hurt each other, he put us here to help each other," she said.
The program recognized 10 county organizations that are dedicated to helping people or making their lives better: American Red Cross, Beaman Home, Boys and Girls Club of Kosciusko County, Combined Community Services, Habitat for Humanity, Heartline Pregnancy Center, Kosciusko Literacy Services, Our Father's House, Salvation Army and Sus Amigos.
Roz Morgan, of Our Father's House, also spoke on the issue of serving the community, saying, "Each of us who has founded a charity ... knows what it is to have a dream."
She told of growing up poor and not realizing she was poor because she grew up in a time of neighbor helping neighbor.
"Poverty is not a sin," she said. "Not doing something about it is."
April Knepper spoke about receiving help from Heartline for an unexpected pregnancy two years ago and how the organization helped her turn her life around.
"However they can help you they do," she said.
The Committee to Commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Inc. also gave out two minority scholarships, an annual event.
The scholarships, of $1,000 each, went to Indiana University student Angele Marandet and Bethel College student Diana Kent, both of whom said they were inspired by King's life and dreams.
