Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award

2024 Recipient: Sarah McCue

Sarah McCue was nominated for her outstanding service to the community through her work with the Community Kitchen. The Community Kitchen works alone and in collaboration with others, to eliminate hunger in Monroe County and surrounding areas through direct service, education and advocacy. They provide warm, nutritious meals to individuals in need Monday through Saturday, free of charge, with no questions asked. The kitchen also distributes meals to children through Feed our Future, Summer Food Service Program, Backpack Buddies and Head Start, and to chronically ill and homebound seniors through Nutrition Links and Senior Links.

Sarah McCue is consistently welcoming and friendly to everyone who comes in the door of the Community Kitchen. She has a smile and a hello, by name for everyone. If there is someone new, (there are always new people), she wastes no time in making them feel welcome and remembers their name from then on.

Sarah's ability to show care and compassion to everyone, truly listen to their needs and concerns, and make everyone feel like they are welcome and belong has truly amazed the staff at the Community Kitchen. Sarah is at the top of the list of kind and caring people. The folks at Community Kitchen have been involved in many human rights and social justice issues during their lives, and have worked with many different very dedicated, amazing people who in their own way were working for the common good and something greater than themselves. Still, Sarah stands out as a living example of what it is to show kindness, caring and compassion. The Bloomington community is truly lucky and blessed to have her in its corner.

Most people coming in to the Community Kitchen are experiencing a variety of problems, sometimes very serious ones. Even if only for a brief time that day, it can make a huge difference to be acknowledged and heard. While adaquite food and nutrition are very important, it would just be barely surviving without a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. Although Sarah is a paid employee at the kitchen, she is not really there for the paycheck. Since she is nearing eighty, she could just be relaxing and spending time with her sister and daughter. It is obvious that she is there because she cares and because her heart is big enough to treat everyone who comes through the door like they are family.

Sarah is the Community Kitchen's greatest asset to creating that welcoming, safe and all inclusive atmosphere and space. 

See all past award recipients

Criteria

1. The nominee has been personally or corporately involved in making tangible, visible, and meaningful contributions to the advancement of race relations, justice, and/or human rights causes.
2. The nominee must have been a Monroe County resident, business, or advocacy group for at least one year.
    

Nomination Process

1. Anyone can make a nomination.
2. The deadline for submitting nominations is TBD.
3. Nominations may be made online only and will be opening by Oct. 1st 2024. (check back soon for the nomination link)
    

Selection Process

1. The Award Committee reviews all nominations and recommends finalists for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration Commission to consider. The Commission makes the final selection. Any member of either the Award Committee or Commission who is nominated for the award must excuse themselves from discussions and voting during the selection process. Likewise, any immediate family members must also excuse themselves from the decision-making process.
2. The Award Committee shall notify the winner in January and invite the winner to attend the Birthday Celebration.
3. The Mayor of the City of Bloomington or the Chair of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration Commission will present the award at the Birthday Celebration.