Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center Newport

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EWE Spirit Grant Recipient Story:

In March of 2026, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, located in Geoff’s

childhood hometown of Newport RI, received a $10,000 grant from EWE spirit to

support their efforts in strengthening Newport County through Hunger Relief, Education

Programs, and Community Health & Wellness.

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center was founded in 1922 by a group of

community-minded individuals who noticed the unaddressed needs of their neighbors.

Originally named the Newport Community Association Center and fondly nicknamed

“The Rec,” The Center was renamed in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

following his assassination in 1968. For over 100 years, the MLK Community Center

has remained dedicated to supporting and uplifting the residents of Newport County.

Many are surprised to learn the extent of need among the residents of Newport County,

and that it continues to grow. In a recent report from the 2026 Kids Count Fact Book, the

child poverty rate in Newport was the second highest in the state, at 32%. The lack of

affordable housing, the high cost of food and utilities, and changes in SNAP benefits

play a large role in this alarming statistic. In 2020, the MLK Community Center provided

226,000 meals to the most vulnerable residents of Newport County. In 2025, that

number jumped to 1.4 million meals. That is a staggering 519% increase.

The Center’s programs are essential to the health and wellness of many residents in

Newport County. The organization believes that access to healthy food, education, and

wellness programs is a fundamental right, and they work to provide these opportunities

to individuals and families at no cost.

The Food Pantry is a hunger relief program that garners some of the most participation

from the community. Through the Food Pantry, residents have access to monthly

groceries free of charge. The pantry is set up like a grocery store and operates on a

client-choice model, allowing clients to pick out the items their families prefer rather than

having generic goods handed to them. Clients not only receive non-perishables, but

fresh milk, eggs, meat, fruits and vegetables, and other necessities such as household

cleaning supplies, toiletries, and pet food.

A 75-year-old Middletown resident and a client of the MLK speaks extremely highly of

the MLK Food Pantry by saying, “My income is little to nothing. The Pantry fills my

needs. Food prices are ridiculously high. I’m blown away to see the food that I can get

in the Food Pantry. The meat is great. I like the miscellaneous shelf – there’s always

something good, and you never know what you’re going to find there. I like that there’s

not just food – I can get toilet paper, toothpaste. We don’t have a pet, but I love to see

pet food in the pantry. It’s really like going to the grocery store. You don’t feel like you’re low and poor. You’re not treated in a different way. It normalizes shopping at the food

pantry.”

The Center’s mission is to improve the economic, social, and physical well-being of

Newport County residents. The Center currently provides over 25+ programs in Hunger

Relief, Education, and Community Health & Wellness to this end. Support for their

programs comes from local foundations and grantors, local religious organizations, and

generous donations from the community in Newport County.

Those interested in learning more can visit the MLK website at mlkccenter.org to sign up

to volunteer, give, and subscribe to their weekly newsletter to keep up with program

schedules and news.The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center was founded in 1922 by a group of community-minded individuals who noticed the unaddressed needs of their neighbors.