2026 MLK Day celebration schedule
Augustana College's annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and legacy will take place Jan. 19-23. The theme of the event is "The Fierce Urgency of Now: Compassion in Action."
See below for event details.
Jan. 5-19: Augustana Community Food Drive
Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 to Monday, Jan. 19, 2026
Various locations
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service, we invite the Augustana community to participate in our campus-wide MLK Community Food Drive, supporting individuals and families experiencing food insecurity in the Quad Cities. This initiative is part of the 2026 MLK Week programming and reflects this year’s theme: “The Fierce Urgency of Now: Compassion in Action.”
Throughout the drive, students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to donate non-perishable food and essential items to help meet immediate needs in our region. All donations will support the Augustana Campus Cupboard and Sacred Heart Food Pantry.
Drop-off locations (weekdays 9 a.m.-4 p.m.):
- Office of Student Inclusion and Diversity (Gerber Center 420)
- Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Bahls CLC 101)
Most needed donation items
We encourage donations of non-perishable food items and basic essentials. Below is a list of preferred items recommended by the Campus Cupboard and Sacred Heart Food Pantry:
| Food items | Basic needs and household items |
|---|---|
|
|
If you have questions, please reach out to inclusion@augustana.edu.
Jan. 19: “Acts of Compassion: Turning Care into Change”
Monday, Jan. 19, 2026
Noon-1:30 p.m.
Gerber Center for Student Life, Gävle rooms
Join us for this year’s MLK Day keynote panel, “Acts of Compassion: Turning Care into Change,” a conversation with leaders whose work reflects Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s call to respond to the fierce urgency of now with empathy, courage, and meaningful action.
Our panelists are actively addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing our communities, including food insecurity, inequitable access to essential resources, and growing social division, through service, advocacy, and collaborative partnerships. Through shared experiences and practical insight, they will reflect on how compassion becomes a catalyst for justice, what it means to move from awareness to sustainable action, and how each of us can help build a more caring and equitable community.
Be part of this timely and inspiring conversation, and leave equipped to turn care into change, right now, when it matters most.
Moderator
Details coming soon
Panelists
Details coming soon
Contact:
Ashley Allen, ashleyallen@augustana.edu