The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center is ramping up its hunger relief efforts and calling on the community for support as uncertainty around SNAP benefits threatens to leave thousands of Rhode Islanders without food assistance beginning Nov. 1.
The center, which distributed nearly 1.4 million meals last year, relies heavily on community support to maintain its food pantry operations. Currently, 31% of the food served is purchased by the MLK Center and 25% comes from food donations.
The organization is seeking public support through cash donations, food donations and food drives as demand is expected to increase significantly.
The center’s food pantry, located at 20 Dr. Marcus Wheatland Blvd. in Newport, operates on the following schedule:
Day hours:
- Monday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Tuesday: noon to 3 p.m.
- Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Thursday: noon to 3 p.m.
- Friday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Evening hours:
- Wednesday: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The center’s loading dock is open for donation drop-offs Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Community members can help by making cash donations to keep shelves stocked, donating nonperishable food and toiletry items, or hosting a food drive. Information on hosting a donation bin is available at mlkccenter.org.
The federal government suspended Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments to states effective Nov. 1, affecting an estimated 143,000 Rhode Islanders statewide.
For more information on donating to the MLK Center, visit mlkccenter.org.
