The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center will expand its breakfast and food pantry programs to Saturdays beginning Jan. 24.
Breakfast will be served from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., and the food pantry will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“No one should have to worry about when their next meal is coming,” said Heather Hole Strout, executive director of the MLK Center. “Weekend hours will give more flexibility to the many people in our community who are working hard to put food on their table and can’t get to the Center during the week.”
With the addition of Saturday hours, the breakfast program will operate six days a week. A hot meal is served each day, and the program is open to anyone in need. Visitors should use the Edward Street entrance.
The food pantry will also expand to six days a week with the following schedule:
- Monday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Tuesday: noon to 3 p.m.
- Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Thursday: noon to 3 p.m.
- Friday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The food pantry is open to anyone who lives or works in Newport County. First-time users should bring a photo ID, proof of residency or employment and proof of family size. All visitors are asked to bring reusable bags.
“Adding Saturday breakfast and food pantry hours has been an important goal in our Strategic Plan,” Strout said. “We’re thankful for our generous community for making this program expansion a reality.”
Founded in 1922 and renamed after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968, the MLK Community Center helped more than 8,700 people last year, the most in its history.
The center is located at 20 Dr. Marcus Wheatland Blvd. For more information, call 401-846-4828 or visit MLKCCenter.org.