“We’re going to protest racism daily in our lives by being the best examples of ourselves," said Ali Muhammad, CEO of Melanin Unchained. "Then we decided to organize, and then mobilizing ourselves to do these things, but be efficient doing them.”

And that's exactly what they did on a cold January Sunday in a chilly basement.

Muhammad and other members of Melanin Unchained sorted through donated clothes to hand out to people that needed them on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

What You Need To Know

  • Melanin Unchained and 845 Unity collaborated to hand out clothing and food to people in Newburgh

  • The groups were honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with a day of service on the federal holiday

  • They plan on continuing to work together to make the Hudson Valley a more equitable place

The group has been helping the Hudson Valley since the summer, mostly through street cleanups and winter clothing drives. Made up largely of young people, they say they want to continue the legacy of MLK Jr.

“Dr. King believed in service and servitude to the people," said Ahmad Free-Cohen, the group's vice president. "And with that, you also build a connection with the people in your community, an understanding of what they need."

After spending over an hour going through clothes, they were all ready for Monday. Sitting at the corner of Liberty Street and Broadway in Newburgh, they filled tables and racks with winter coats, gloves, hats, and more.

For people who might be struggling, an event like this can make a big difference in their lives.

“Every time we come out here and give clothes, it’s always something that somebody doesn’t have," said Amir Barksdale, the group's president. "So that’s a really motivating force for us to keep coming out and keep accepting donations for things.”

They weren't doing it alone.

Melanin Unchained was joined by 845 Unity, which also brought clothes and bags of food to give out. The collaborative effort is something they find necessary to make a stronger regional community.

“We as the Hudson Valley organizations can show that no matter where you live, or no matter what community you service, the needs are all the same in every community. We can come together and service communities together,” said Allan McClain, president of 845 Unity.

The groups' leaders plan on continuing to work together, with a street cleanup scheduled in Middletown next weekend.