The S. Delois Mayes Scholarship Foundation will hold its fifth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Benefit Brunch later this month.

The foundation holds the event every year to raise money for scholarships and to honor someone with a community leadership award.

Pastor Vincent Wade Daniels and his wife, Estelle Daniels, of Berean Community Church, are being honored this year for their service to their community in Norfolk.

“When we got all the nominations in and looked them over, their nomination really stood out. They didn’t just do one thing one time. This is something they have done over the years every year,” said the president of the board of directors, Ebony Wright. “When we look at community leadership, it shouldn’t be a one-time thing. It’s something that you practice and it’s who you are.”

In the last five years, the Danielses have purchased and delivered food to the homeless and opened their food pantry monthly to the public. They also hold an annual food drive during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Their generosity extends even further into their community.

They also host an annual back-to-school community day to provide bookbags and school supplies for grade-school students.

The couple has also partnered with Crossroads Elementary School and Richard Bowling Elementary School to sponsor an annual toy giveaway during Christmas.

Honoring those that serve their community is exactly what the brunch is about. Wright and those at the foundation want people to remember that Martin Luther King Jr. Day is also a day of service.

“We do it every year, because people are willing to come together on a day of service for a good cause with purpose,” Wright said.

The theme of the brunch is “The Measure of a Man,” and Lt. Cmdr. Desmond Walker will be the guest speaker.

Walker is an officer in the U.S. Navy and currently serves on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations as the Navy Liaison Officer to the Commandant of the Marine Corps Strategic Initiatives Group.

“Our speaker has overcome a lot of obstacles, and he is going to speak to the theme,” Wright said.

Wright is happy to see how much the brunch has grown and is happy to see it continue for the fifth year in her late sister’s name.

“I’m happy, because the goal is just to award scholarships and reach out to kids,” Wright said. “She (Mayes) overcame a lot, and education was very important to her. This is one of the ways we can help, and to go five years and grow is great. I hope she is looking down and is proud.”

The event will be held at 10 a.m. Jan. 21 at Hilton Garden Inn at Harbour View, 5921 Harbour View Blvd. Tickets are $50, and they are available on the foundation’s website at sdmscholarshipfoundation.com.