11/18/22 We Need Your Help to Make the Holiday Programs Possible

Updates from the MLK Community Center

Friday, November 18, 2022

We Need Your Help to

Make the MLK's Holiday Programs Possible

This week we gave out hundreds of supermarket gift cards to over 750 families to help them have a bountiful Thanksgiving. That is a 20% increase from last year and the most the MLK Center has ever seen. We will be giving out just as many or more for December meals. Holidays are not just about food at the MLK; we'll be providing toys, gifts, and merchant gift cards for hundreds of local kids at Santa's Workshop. Rising costs for food, housing, and fuel, are making this holiday season more stressful than usual for more families than ever before. If you have the means, can you help us support families in your community? Check out ways to get involved below:

Gift Card Donations

This year, we are distributing supermarket gift cards for all holiday meals and merchant gift cards for 13-17 year-olds at Santa's Workshop. You can help support this effort by donating:

$10 and $20 gift cards for Stop & Shop and Shaw’s
$25 gift cards for Walmart, TJ Maxx/Marshalls, Old Navy, GameStop or Amazon

Or Donate Directly to Holiday Programs Here

All toy and gift card donations must be brought to the MLK Center on or before December 12th.

Donate Toys or

Host a Toy Drive

As we get ready for the holiday gift season our greatest needs are toys and gifts for children from birth to age 17. Toys should be new and unwrapped. Check out the Toy & Gift Wish List

If you would like to host a toy drive, please contact Mel Saunders at [email protected] or call 401-846-4828 x124

No Space to Host a Toy Drive? Consider hosting a Gift Card Drive Instead.

Holiday Help - Important Information

Thanksgiving sign-up is now over. If you missed it, please wait until Monday, November 21 and visit MLK's Temporary Pantry between 10 a.m - 4 p.m. If there are remaining gift cards available, we will distribute as many as possible. You must live in Newport County and bring proof of residency and proof of household size.
There is still time to sign up for December Holiday Meal support and Santa's Workshop. The deadline is November 30. Families who celebrate Hanukkah and Kwanza are welcome to register as well. The temporary pantry office, located directly across the street from the MLK Center, is open for sign-ups every weekday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and until 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.

STEM Lessons at MLK
After School Takes on Lego Robotics & Coding

Volunteer Steve Kay has returned for the first time since Covid to teach a LEGO robotics after school class. He and his assistant Steve Burrill lead three of our oldest students in a month long, hands-on immersive experience. Once a week they gather and students follow step by step instructions to build their robots while learning about the different components, how they function and why they are important. They also learn a simple coding program to make their robot move and have to troubleshoot when things don't work...just like real engineers!

Don't Miss the Last MLK Friends Dinner of the Year!
Wednesday, November 30th at 5:30 p.m.

Edmilson Andrade is returning as the guest chef for the last MLK Friends Dinner of the Year. This dinner is free-of-charge and open to the whole community. Dine-in and take-out options are available. Don't miss this delicious Brazilian feast!

Wednesday, November 30 at 5:30 p.m.
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
12 Marlborough St. Newport

Save the Date - Giving Tuesday
Give on 11/29 and Your Donation will be Doubled!!

Every dollar counts at the MLK. No donation is too small.

Please give what you can on Tuesday 11/29.

HIV/HEP C Testing
Monday, November 21, 7:30 - 9 a.m.

Friday Yoga is Back
Beginning December 2 at 8:30 a.m.

We are excited to announce that Eames Yates from LOVE >FEAR yoga studio will now be leading Friday yoga classes.

Fridays, beginning December 2

8:30 - 9:30 a.m. at

St. Paul's United Methodist Church

12 Marlborough St. Newport, RI

Click here to learn more and to register.

Questions? Contact Mel Saunders at
[email protected]

or call 401-846-4828 ext. 124

Mobile Food Pantry Tracker

The Potter League will join us at the locations indicated below. You can find the mobile food pantry at:

Tuesday 11/22:

Apple Creek, 700 Windwood Dr., Tiverton 12-1 with Potter League

Wednesday 11/23:

Quaker Estates, 2368 East Main Rd., Portsmouth 12-1 with Potter League

Anthony House, 51 Middle Rd., Portsmouth 1-2 with Potter League

Tuesday 11/29:

West House, 417 Forest Ave., Middletown 12-1 with Potter League

Thursday 12/1:

Hancock Estates, 345 Hancock St., Tiverton 12-1

Tiverton Housing Authority, 99 Hancock St., Tiverton 1-2

November Calendar
Look for Program Locations in Blue and Yellow

Please Read Parking Details Below

Download the Calendar

Parking at St. Paul's United Methodist Church:

Please only park in the front lot spaces, #5 through #11 along side the church, and #25 -#27 next to the garage.

There are 10 more spaces in St. Paul’s lot on the corner of Coddington St. and Charles St. behind the kitchen with a path around to the entry door.

If those are not enough spots, there are generally spots on Coddington, Charles and Farewell St. The city’s parking restrictions are no longer in effect this time of year.

Schedule Changes to Note

LiHeap (Heating Assistance) will be at the MLK Pantry the first Wednesday of every month December 2022 - March 2023, from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
There are NO FRIDAY YOGA classes during November
The 11/22 LivFit Class has been cancelled
Monday Zumba classes have been temporarily cancelled.

Annual Appeal

Click on each infographic below to see how your generosity helped us do so much for the community in 2022. Help us do even more by donating to the annual appeal today! Every dollar will be matched (up to $100,000) if it is received by 12/31/22.

Don't Delay, Donate Today!