About

Founded in 1922 and renamed after Dr. King in 1968, The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center nourishes, educates, and supports Newport County, R.I. residents to improve their economic, social, and physical well-being. We build a strong and inclusive community where all people are empowered to be self-reliant and to live their best quality of life.  The MLK Community Center celebrated 100 years of service in 2022. The MLK is a multi-service independent nonpfit providing a wide variety of human serviced and enrichment activities to meet the diverse needs of over 8,000 residents of Newport County annually. The MLK provides over 25 programs via three program areas: hunger relief, child education, and community wellness.  Over 650 volunteers give their time to the Center each year. 

Hunger relief and nutrition programs:

On-site food pantry

Mobile Food Pantry

Food 2 Friends Grocery delivery to homebound seniors and disabled

Daily Hot Breakfast

Daily Bread

Midday Meals 3x weekly

Thanksgiving and Holiday Meal Assistance

Produce to the People weekly veggie distribution yearround onsite, seasonally at 3 sites

Education

Preschool

After School

Summer Camp

Adult Wellness + Community 

Senior Lunch & Learn

Outdoor concerts

Exercise, art, and cooking classes

Santa's Workshop

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

MLK Friends Lunches & Diners

Kids Wonder Lab sensory play 

Military Legacies monthly drop-in for active and retired servicepeople

All programs offered at no cost, except education programs for which generous needs-based scholarships are offered. The MLK builds community, and is supported by the community. Less than 3% of our annual budget comes from federal, state, and local government funding.