IHS Collection Drive Honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Dedicated to Center Grove Family

The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) is partnering up with HealthNet, a local non-profit network of primary care health centers, to launch a community challenge in support of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. IHS and HealthNet are setting a goal to collect 500 much-needed winter clothing items between Monday, Jan. 11, and Monday, Jan. 18. The drive will culminate on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day with free admission and special programs at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, located at 450 W. Ohio St. in downtown Indianapolis.

Throughout the challenge, IHS will be accepting donations of new or gently-used winter coats, hats, gloves, mittens and scarves. The items will benefit the HealthNet Homeless Initiative Program, which serves more than 3,000 homeless individuals in Marion County each year with outreach, medical, case management, employment and housing programs.

In addition, the winter clothing drive is dedicated to the memory of HealthNet Optometrist Jill Buck, O.D., who was instrumental in organizing the partnership with IHS before her death. The Center Grove mother and two of her children, 10-year-old Branson and 8-year-old Aidan, were killed in a multi-car crash on I-65 in July.

“She was a highly skilled optometrist whose work serving the uninsured and underinsured in Indianapolis has improved the lives of so many people,” said HealthNet President and CEO J. Cornelius Brown. “She not only helped people to see the world more clearly, but she also shared Dr. King’s vision to serve and make the world a better place.”

Normally closed on Mondays, the History Center will be open on Monday, Jan. 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the winter clothing drive is just one aspect of service planned to honor Dr. King. From noon to 4 p.m., guests are also invited to help pack care packages to benefit Wheeler Mission, with items provided by Target.

In addition, visitors are encouraged to come early, or stay late, to take advantage of free admission to performances, programs and the Indiana Experience. For more information on this event and other IHS programs, call (317) 232-1882 or visit www.indianahistory.org.

About the Indiana Historical Society

Since 1830, the Indiana Historical Society has been Indiana’s Storyteller, connecting people to the past by collecting, preserving, interpreting and sharing the state’s history. A private, nonprofit membership organization and an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, IHS maintains the nation’s premier research library and archives on the history of Indiana and the Old Northwest and presents a unique set of visitor exhibitions called the Indiana Experience. IHS provides support and assistance to local museums and historical groups, publishes books and periodicals; sponsors teacher workshops; produces and hosts art exhibitions, museum theater and outside performance groups; and provides youth, adult and family programming.

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