Since 1922,  the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Center has been a safe and caring environment offering nutritional, educational, social and referral services to persons of all ages and cultures in Newport County, while promoting personal growth opportunities leading to self-sufficiency.

All are welcome at the MLK’s Food Programs. The breakfast program, which relies on food drives and local donations, is the only daily meal site in Newport. Breakfast is served between 8:30 and 9:30am, Monday through Friday. The center also runs the highest-volume food pantry in the county, which is open from 10:00 am through 2:00pm, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  The MLK relies on food drives, local donations and volunteers to combat hunger in our community.

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center also operates the Lighthouse Early Learning Center for preschool age children, recognized by the Federal Early Reading First Initiative as a Center of Excellence. The MLK offers before and afterschool programming via the Lighthouse Academy for children in kindergarten through grade six. The Center’s Summer Adventure camp offers fun in a literacy-rich environment and is the model for the Reading Reaps Rewards programs sponsored by the Newport Public Schools. 

Expanding its reach into the community, the MLK presents the Strong Woman Series offer empowerment and self-improvement for working women living on their own in Newport County. 

The Center’s innovative new partnership with Literacy Volunteers of East Bay leverages the agencies’ combined strength to support family literacy.