GALVESTON — Budget cuts have forced organizers of the Martin Luther King Jr. festivities to cancel the annual parade this year and opt instead for a unity walk.

The city of Galveston, facing financial constraints after Hurricane Ike struck Sept. 13, trimmed the city fund that paid for community events, such as the annual KingFest activities that honor the slain civil rights leader’s birthday.

Without the $5,000 from the city, festival organizers could not afford the parade permits, police protection or insurance to cover parade floats required by the city, said Shirlyn Thomas, organizer and co-chair of the Old Central Committee.

Instead of a parade with floats, marching bands and cars, festival organizers are putting together a “unity march” that will begin at noon Saturday. The march will begin at St. Vincent’s House, 2817 Postoffice St., and end at the Garten Verein in Kempner Park, 27^th Street and Avenue O, where a picnic and fair will be held.

Social workers and Galveston Housing Authority employees will be available from noon to 3 p.m. to help island residents with needs related to hurricane recovery, including housing. The Black Nurse’s Association will conduct a health screening.

The unity march holds special significance in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, Thomas said. The hurricane, which flooded 75 percent of the island, was a “great equalizer,” she said.

“We all are the same,” she said. “We all have vulnerabilities, and we need each other. This is about everybody in Galveston.”

The budget cuts have also forced organizers to curtail the annual awards ceremony held at The Grand 1984 Opera House and, instead, combine the ceremony with a Sunday church service.

This year, organizers will hand out the service award to the island’s police, firefighters, emergency medical services crew, city workers, the city council and the Galveston Housing Authority. The winner of the humanitarian award will be announced at the service at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Avenue L Missionary Baptist Church, 2612 Avenue L.

The Rev. Kelton Sams will be the guest speaker. Sams, a Galveston native, pushed for civil rights on the island. He led an effort in the early 1960s to desegregate Stewart Beach and downtown businesses.

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Upcoming Events

WHAT: KingFest MLK Unity March WHEN: Noon Sunday WHERE: St. Vincent’s House, 2817 Post Office St. to Garten Verein, 27^th Street and Avenue O CALL: Manuel or Shirlyn Thomas, 409-741-0090

WHAT: Reception and awards for MLK essay contest winners WHEN: 3 p.m. Sunday WHERE: Old Central Cultural Center, 2627 Avenue M CALL: Maggie Williams, 409-744-1491

WHAT; KingFest Church Service and awards ceremony WHEN: 7 p.m. Sunday WHERE: Avenue L Missionary Baptist Church, 2612 Ave. L CALL: Ennis William, 409-744-1491

WHAT: Saint Vincent’s House Unity Prayer Vigil WHEN: Noon Jan. 19 WHERE: 2817 PostOffice St. CALL: Michael Jackson, 409-763-8521