Mississippi Power employees use day off to spruce up East Biloxi park

BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -

Some employees of a large company chose to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's legacy through service, Monday. They worked together to make a difference in one east Biloxi neighborhood.

Under sunny skies they toiled, trying to beautify John Henry Beck Park on Division Street. About 20 Mississippi Power employees turned their day off into a day of service.

"Martin Luther King was all about service and serving other people and that's what we encourage our employees to do. You can see a lot of people have pitched in their time to come out here and work for a good cause," said Mississippi Power District Manager Stephen Schruff.

One crew rebuilt a ramp for the gazebo, while another group of volunteers painted the front and back porches of the "Coastal Women for Change" office building.

"It's overwhelming. It's a blessing. It's humbling the fact that people gave up their day to help others. And Martin would love this, because this is what he was talking about. He's saying come together, equality," said Coastal Women for Change Executive Director Sharon Hanshaw.

Kenneth Means brought his two children to help spruce-up the Community Garden. They tilled the dirt, raked, and cleaned-up the area.

"Go over there and get that trash. See it trash on that fence?" he told his six-year-old son Kenneth Means, III.

The Mississippi Power engineer wanted to show his children how they can put King's message into action.

"I think it's important as parents, and also as an African-American father, that we allow our kids to see us go out and have a day of caring. Today, while it is a holiday, it's really not a day off. So for my kids, I think it's important that we lead by example," said Means.

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Mississippi Power employees use day off to spruce up East Biloxi park