6AM City In-house

It’s MLK Day

Local volunteer opportunities for MLK Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Cola
The Stone of Hope fountain with engravings of Martin Luther King Jr.’s quotes inside of Martin Luther King Jr. Park. | Photo by @where_it_takes_you
Each year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed as a federal holiday on the third Monday of January — today. The theme for this year is “Cultivating a Beloved Community Mindset to Transform Unjust Systems,” according to The King Center — a nonprofit founded by MLK’s wife, Coretta Scott King, to continue Dr. King’s legacy.

If you have time to dedicate to our community, here are three local volunteer opportunities:
  • Harvest Hope | Help feed families by volunteering for the crisis pantry or organizing a food drive.
  • Transitions Homeless Center | Create and lead a class to help clients learn practical skills like budgeting and applying for jobs, or recreational activities like art, fitness, and hobbies.
  • Big Homie Lil Homie | Become a mentor and build strong, trusting relationships, positive attitudes, and life skills through mentoring and enriching life experiences. You must be able to spend at least one hour with your mentee each month.
Aside from lending a hand, you can also commemorate MLK by attending one of these local events:
  • The 35th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ceremony is happening today at 4 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Park and Community Center, (2300 Greene St.). Columbia Native and NBA Hall of Famer Alex English will be the keynote speaker.
  • Bonus — The Columbia Museum of Art is offering free admission today to honor Dr. King. Browse several exhibitions and attend “A Storytelling Celebration” — a special event that celebrates the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Looking for other ways to get involved? Check out more local volunteer opportunities.
United Way of the Midlands

Click here to have your event featured.

Tuesday, Jan. 17
Wednesday, Jan. 18
  • Evening for Educators | Wednesday, Jan. 18 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St., Columbia | Educators from across the state are invited to an evening of art, wine, and nibbles as they enjoy a private preview of the CMA’s newest exhibition.*
Thursday, Jan. 19
  • YLS Oyster Roast | Thursday, Jan. 19 | 6-9 p.m. | City Market Place, 705 Gervais St., Columbia | $40-$50 | Join YLS for a shuckin’ good time at their annual Oyster Roast benefiting United Way, and enjoy a silent auction, open bar, and music by DJ Preach Jacobs.
Friday, Jan. 20
  • Tom Papa - Comedy in All Forms | Friday, Jan. 20 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Harbison Theatre, 7300 College St., Irmo | $40-$45 | Tom Papa is a critically acclaimed and accomplished comedic personality who has created a name for himself as an author, actor, film and television writer, radio and podcast host while maintaining his live on-stage career.
We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
100+ MORE EVENTS
Affinity Healthcare dba Palmetto Primary Care

Don’t be caught unprepared: The benefits of having a generator
Backyard of a home with a patio, chairs, table and a Generac Generator
During an outage, a Generac generator senses the problem within seconds, turns on, and fully powers a house – whether you are home or not. | Photo provided by Cool Care Heating & Air
So, you lost power. If you don’t have a backup power generator installed in your home or business, you might have a big problem (think: refrigeration, heating + air, lighting, clean water, internet, and more) if high wind, snow, or an ice storm comes through the Midlands.

The go-to choice for whole home (or business) generators according to the pros at Cool Care Heating & Air? The Generac family of automatic standby generators.

To invest in a generator that will keep life going without disruptions, call Cool Care Heating & Air at (803) 772-7715 to schedule an assessment of your backup power needs and installation of your generator.*
THE 411 ON GENERAC GENERATORS

Weather
  • 59º | Mostly cloudy | 0% chance of rain
Closing
  • The Little Green Door — an antique store located at 1533 Richland St. — is closing. The owner and co founder, Kayla Sweigart, is taking a step back from retail and focusing more on curating for clients. The local antique shop will have sales over the next few weeks and a closing date hasn’t been announced. 🚪
Number
  • $200 million. That’s the amount Southern Current — an alternative energy firm — could be investing in the Columbia area, thanks to an agreement with Dominion Energy South Carolina. The company is looking to purchase the Lone Star Solar farm — a proposed 572-acre facility in Calhoun County that’s expected to be operating in 2024. 💰 (The Post and Courier)
Drink
  • Piecewise Coffee Co. is now offering a happy hour. Enjoy 15% off of all drink purchases every Monday-Thursday from 2-4 p.m. Pro tip: order one of its seasonal sips like the winter’s gold cortado — made with a balance of orange and cardamom. ☕️
  • Going dry this month? Give it your all with Athletic Brewing Company’s non-alcoholic craft beers. From IPAs to goldens, they have brews for whenever + wherever works for you. Subscribe to get 50% off your first month (terms + conditions apply). 🍻*
Try This
  • ColaJazz Loft Sessions — a new series presented in the historic Pastor’s Study above Lula Drake Wine Parlour on Main Street — will kick off with the Gino Castillo Trio (Cuban Jazz) today at 7 p.m. Listen as musicians push the boundaries of their creativity in an intimate space.
Seasonal
  • If you’ve got sticker shock from your winter energy bills, it’s time to break out the space heater. Solve chilly mornings the energy efficient way with the Dr. Infrared Heater that warms objects, not the air. Hello, cozy legs. Bonus: Heat your patio with infrared, too. 🔥*
Eat
  • Skip the meal hassle with Sunbasket, a meal kit delivery service that makes healthy eating beyond easy. Sunbasket offers 10 different meal plans that work for those with dietary preferences and specific restrictions (think: paleo, gluten-free, veg, diabetes-friendly + more). Bonus: Sign up for $100 off your first four deliveries. 🥕*
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6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Sam.

Editor’s pick: Riverbanks Zoo announced that koala Charlotte’s joey’s new name is — drumroll — Kirra. Great job on voting and choosing the name, Soda Citizens.

Fun fact: Kirra translates to “leaf” in the Yugambeh language, native to the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? Meet Cola’s 2023 ambassadors, here.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Samantha Robertson, David Stringer, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith| Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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