What the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center is NOT

We are not publicly funded We participate in two Federal grant programs that together provide about 7-8% of our revenue. State funds (not counting reimbursements for child care fees) amount to about .8% of our overall budget. And while we work closely with the city and with our public schools, we receive less than 2% of total revenue from the city of Newport.

We don’t just serve Newport

We serve all of Newport County. People from all other parts of the Rhode Island do occasionally use our services, as well. Last year 20% of food pantry clients came from Middletown and 8 to 10% from Portsmouth. The number of clients from Jamestown, Tiverton, and Little Compton grows every year. 

GOT STATS?

• About 30% of the families who accessed the food pantry at the MLKCC over the last 9 months have been brand-new.
  
• Many are families with 2 working parents, 2 or 3 jobs, and sometimes a college degree. Many live in communities not known for poverty, like Portsmouth, Jamestown, Tiverton and Little Compton. 
  
• Around 70% of the food currently available at the Center’s Food Pantry is the result of food drives and local donations.
  
• Last year the enter involved 48 children in literacy, sports and arts activities during our Summer Camp.
  
• In 2008, the Center tutored, mentored and created unique enrichment activities for 159 pre-school and elementary school students.
  
• The MLKCC Teen Center empowered 154 middle and high school youth to make a difference in their community and their lives through Leadership, Scholarship and Citizenship activities.
  
• Last year the MLKCC welcomed more than 800 youth and adults as volunteers in our programs, together performing more than 10,500 hours of community service.