See how this day off for most people became a day to pitch in and help other people who could use a helping hand.

Celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day came early in Kansas, beginning on his birthday with a march, a formal proclamation and words honoring the beloved civil rights figure. The Jan. 16 event, put on annually by the Kansas African American Affairs Commission,

With a day set aside to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Kansans are remembering the Civil Rights leader in a variety of ways, including taking the day to give back.