MLK Community Center In Newport Transformed With Upgrades, New Food Pantry

NEWPORT, RI — The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newly renovated facility at 20 Dr. Marcus Wheatland Blvd. in Newport, marking the end of 13 months of construction.

A community center spokesperson said this milestone not only honors the legacy of Dr. King, but also signifies the beginning of the "Great Program Migration," welcoming back the center's programs to their improved and modernized home.

Community center officials said BankNewport helped play a pivotal role in transforming the building by awarding a $200,000 grant in 2022 to the MLK Center's Building Hope Campaign, specifically for their new, state-of-the-art food pantry.

"BankNewport expresses its deep gratitude to the MLK Center staff and volunteers and to those community members who contributed to making the building campaign a reality," Bank Newport President Jack Murphy said. "The renovated center and its food pantry represent a beacon of hope, nourishment, and support for Newport County residents, embodying the MLK Center's mission to improve economic, social, and physical well-being."

The food pantry, a critical component of the MLK Center's offerings, reopened on Jan. 17, after moving from a temporary location. It provides non-perishable food, frozen meats, fresh milk, eggs, produce, and bread, in addition to household and personal care items.

The pantry is stocked and serves the community with operating hours on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and Wednesday evenings from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, volunteers assemble grocery orders for delivery to home bound seniors.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America since 2020 to help raise awareness in our local communities of hunger, a persistent national problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks and 60,000 local meals programs across the country, estimates that nearly 34 million people, including 9 million children — about 1 in 6 Americans — are living with food insecurity. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.

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