10/14/22 Program Locations are Changing

Updates from the MLK Community Center

Friday, October 14, 2022

Program Locations are Changing
Beginning Monday October 17

The MLK Community Center is excited to announce that we are beginning construction in the next few weeks to meet the growing needs in our hunger relief programs. These changes will include a bigger and better pantry and kitchen, along with more food storage so we will be able to purchase larger quantities at a reduced price. Since some areas of the Center will be closed, it was necessary to move many of the community programs and meals (except for Grab & Go Soups) to off site locations beginning next Monday, October 17. In the calendar below, those programs highlighted in blue will be moved to Saint Paul's Methodist Church located at 12 Marlborough Street and those highlighted in yellow will be held at the Community Baptist Church at 50 Dr. Marcus F. Wheatland Blvd.

The Food Pantry will continue to operate in its current temporary location across from the Center.

Download the Calendar

It's Today! Friday, October 14, 4-7 pm
Annual Pumpkin Regatta - All Proceeds to Benefit the MLK

Don't miss the fun! All proceeds will benefit the MLK!!

Can't go, but still want to support the MLK through this event?

You can make a donation below.

Give To Support the Pumpkin Regatta and MLK

Breakfast at MLK

It's More Than Food, It's Family

Breakfast, like all meals at the MLK, are open to everyone regardless of need with dine-in or take-out options. Open Monday though Friday, from 7:30 - 9:00 a.m., about 60 people show up each day for a well-rounded, balanced breakfast with a protein, fresh fruit, oatmeal, cereal, coffee and tea.

Since breakfast goers include some of the most financially and housing insecure people in our community, the MLK Center also offers to-go meals and emergency supplies daily and gives out a total of 2,000 meals each month through the breakfast program alone. Pictured below is an example of a to-go food bag that is given out before long weekends or to those who need more food during hard times. These have been generously supplied by the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.

Breakfast is also an opportunity for visiting service organizations to reach members of the community. Above, Victor and Alex from Hope Recovery Center in Newport attend every Friday. Their main goal is harm reduction in whatever form that takes. At the MLK Breakfast program they give out supplies such as sleeping bags, tents, Narcan, etc. and are there to help people get into recovery programs if they are ready. Also, every third Monday of the month APRI attends to offer free HIV/Hep C testing. Out of the seven recent tests, all came back negative and now those people are encouraged to stay healthy and make safer decisions.

(Sheila, breakfast volunteer pictured above)

A staff member along with a few volunteers, arrive every day at 6:30 a.m. with people already waiting outside. Although breakfast doesn’t start until 7:30 a.m., the door is opened so they can get out of the cold. Some housing insecure clients will use the bathroom, clean up a bit, etc. before breakfast. The start of their morning can make or break their day so the MLK breakfast team is happy and positive in their interactions with breakfast goers. “Being able to start their days off with a happy experience can help. Having a bad start to a day is challenging for someone trying to deal with a drug addiction. That alone could cause a person to spiral and be more likely to use and we want to help prevent that as much as possible" explained Cassandra, MLK's Hunger Service Assistant. "The people that come here daily are like a family. They really care about each other and coming to breakfast makes them feel like they are part of a community. If someone is missing, others will notice."

Laura and Chanthy, pictured above have become friends at breakfast. Laura is chronically ill and disabled and having access to healthy food is important. She only started coming to the MLK this year and said "it is a huge sense of security for me. The MLK is an unbelievable resource, the best in the community. Produce to the People is also amazing. The only thing I can't get here is housing." Since reaching homeless people is hard because they don't have access to computers or even phones at times, she hands out fliers and shares her experience with others in need.

Chanthy has been coming to the MLK Community Center off and on for almost 20 years. His children have also come through our education programs. “Thank God for this program! When I’m down and out with no place to go the MLK Center saved me and my family. It has kept us all alive.”

Above, you can see the happy faces of staff, volunteers, and breakfast goes who make this meal a community, a true family that support each other. To run this program, MLK relies on a network of volunteers. Out of 23 breakfast volunteers, 4-5 show up each morning to set-up, cook, serve, clean up, and whatever else needs to be done. We wouldn't be able to do it without them or without the support of foundations like Bank of America, who generously funded health and wellness services at the MLK.

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER: DEADLINE IS TODAY

KEEPER OF THE DREAM & Annual Meeting 10/24/22

Keeper of the Dream and Annual Meeting Invite

Join us for our Annual Meeting as we announce changes to our Board of Trustees and present our 2022 Annual Report. We will also celebrate Keeper of the Dream, the highest honors the Center confers upon those whose commitment most embodies the ideals of Dr. King.

Meeting and ceremonies begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. Refreshments and mingling at 6:15 p.m. There is no cost to attend but registration is required.

Please register to get your tickets using the link below.

Registration deadline: October 14, 2022

With gratitude to our event sponsor...

Get Keeper of the Dream Tickets Here

Book Buddies
Guest Readers Visit Preschool

(Rose Hyder pictured above)

(Sue Sipprelle pictured above)

On Friday, October 7, the MLK launched its newest Preschool initiative, Book Buddies. Guest readers join the class to read a story and then help the children with a themed craft related to the book they just heard.

The first guest readers were Rose Hyder and Sue Sipprelle. Rose read Ambitious Girl by Meena Harris to 4-5 year olds and Sue read Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry and Vashti Harrison to the 3-4 year old group.

HIV/Hep C Testing by APRI
Monday, October 17 at St. Paul's Methodist Church

In The Pantry
Toiletries, Pasta & Gluten-free Foods are STILL in Demand

The pantry could use a wide variety of supplies this week including toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, etc.

Gluten-free foods are always in short supply and welcomed year round. Currently, we only have spaghetti on the shelves and could also use more varieties of pasta.

Please bring your donations to the temporary pantry, directly across the street from MLK.