Holiday Help

The holidays are a special time

…but for some of our Newport County neighbors, putting food on the table and toys under the tree can be difficult.

Our Thanksgiving and holiday food pantry offer festive meals to registered families.

Our Santa’s Workshop program offers registered families the opportunity to choose holiday gifts and toys for their children.

All Newport County residents, who are not registered for any other holiday help programs, are eligible.

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Register

Need some extra support for the holidays? The MLK is here to help.

To register for holiday help (Thanksgiving Assistance Program, Holiday Assistance Program and/or Santa’s Workshop), visit the MLK Community Center,  Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., starting Monday, October 16.  

Please bring:

  • Photo ID
  • Proof of Address (i.e, mail with your address and name, lease agreement, etc.)
  • Proof of all family members living in the household


Registration for Thanksgiving Assistance Program ends Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Registration for Holiday Assistance Program and Santa’s Workshop ends Friday, December 08, 2023

If you missed registration, or for more information, contact Mel at (401) 846-4828 or msaunders@MLKCCenter.org

Give

Santa’s Workshop wouldn’t be possible without generous community and corporate support.

The MLK provided holiday meals for over 700 families last year and toys and gifts for over 1,000 children. We encourage individuals, businesses, and organizations to show their generosity this holiday season by holding toy drives, volunteering, donating new unwrapped toys, supermarket gift cards, and more. 

Drop off Locations and Times: Please bring new and unwrapped toys, gifts, merchandise gift card donations to the loading dock at 20 Dr. Marcus Wheatland Blvd., Mon.-Fri, 9:00am – 5:00pm. Please ring the doorbell when you arrive so that our staff can assist you.

Please bring all supermarket gift cards to the temporary food pantry, across the street from the center, Mon. – Fri. 9:00am – 5:00pm.

Please donate as early as possible and no later than December 13th to help us prepare for Santa’s workshop. 

To hold a toy drive and schedule your donation date, contact Mel at (401)846-4828 ext. 124 or MSaunders@MLKCCenter.org

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Frequently Asked Questions

Get Help

1.) I need help this holiday season. What can I get by signing up for Holiday Help?

Holiday Help supplies you with the support you need to have a holiday meal for your November and December holiday. If you register, you may pick up a gift card just before Thanksgiving and a gift card just before the Christmas holiday. In addition, if you have children under 18, you may shop for gifts for each child.

2.) How and where can I sign up to receive Holiday Help?

Staff and volunteers will begin registering clients for all Holiday Help programs starting October 16th at the Edward Street entrance of 20 Dr. Marcus Wheatland Blvd. in Newport, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Remember to bring your photo ID and proof of address and family size.

The staff member or volunteer helping you will make two appointments for you:

A) An appointment for Thanksgiving gift card pickup 

B) An appointment for either Santa’s Workshop (should you have children in your household) or an appointment for Holiday gift card pickup (should you not have children in your household).

3.) What do I need to bring in order to register?

To register, you will need to bring a valid photo ID, proof of your address, and proof of household size.

4.) Can I register online?

We are not allowing anyone to register online at this time.

5.) What is proof of address and family size?

Proof of address is any documentation that you are a Newport County resident, meaning you live in Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton, or Jamestown. This can be a piece of mail with your name and address on it.

To prove family size, please bring proof of address for the other members in your household. Examples include mail, school documentation with name and address, DHS paperwork, medical cards, children’s birth certificates, lease agreements, social security cards, etc.

Please call us at (401) 846-4828, ext. 124 for more information.

6.) What if I do not have an address?

We understand that many families and individuals experience tough housing situations, but this should not deter anyone from signing up for Holiday Help. Please call us if you have special circumstances, and we will take great care to accommodate you.

7.) When does registration for Thanksgiving end?

Registration for Thanksgiving ends Nov. 15

8.) When does registration for Santa’s Workshop end?

Registration for Santa’s Workshop ends Dec. 8

9.) I do not have kids living in my household. May I still receive a grocery gift card?

Yes. You can sign up for both a Thanksgiving gift card and a Holiday gift card. When you register, you will receive two separate appointments to pick up both.

10.) If I sign up for Santa’s Workshop, can my family also receive a grocery gift card?

Yes. You will pick up your family’s grocery store gift card when you pick up your toys.

11.) I live with my 18-year-old. May I still register for Santa’s Workshop?

No. Those with children under 18 may register for Santa’s Workshop.

12.) Where do I pick up my Thanksgiving gift card?

You can pick up your Thanksgiving gift card, during your appointment time, in the main lobby of the newly constructed center, at 20 Dr. Marcus Wheatland Blvd.

13.) Where do I pick up my toys?

You can pick up your toys at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 12 Marlborough St. during your assigned appointment time.

14.) I forgot my appointment time, can I reach out?

Yes. If you forget your appointment time, you can reach out to the center and staff will help you find your appointment time. We will also be sending out reminders as we get closer to that time.

Give Help

1.) How can I help this holiday season?

The Holiday Help Programs wouldn’t be possible without generous community and corporate support.

Please bring new and unwrapped toys, gifts, merchandise gift card donations to the loading dock at 20 Dr. Marcus Wheatland Blvd., Mon.-Fri, 9:00am – 5:00pm. Please ring the doorbell when you arrive so that our staff can assist you.

Please bring food gift cards to the temporary food pantry across the street from the center anytime, Mon. – Fri. 9:00am – 5:00pm.

Please donate as early as possible and no later than December 13th to help us prepare for Santa’s workshop.

There are also options such as hosting a toy drive, volunteering time, or donating monetarily to Holiday Programs.

To hold a toy or gift card drive and schedule your donation date, contact Mel at (401)845-4828 ext. 124 or MSaunders@MLKCCenter.org

2.) I don’t have time to buy a new toy, but I still want to help. What can I do?

There are many ways to help! If you would like to purchase a toy online, you can have it shipped to the center. Please be sure to specify delivery for a weekday only delivery (Mon.-Fri.) between 9:00am and 5:00pm to ensure personnel at the center can receive the delivery.

There are also options such as hosting a toy drive, volunteering time, or donating monetarily to Holiday Programs.

3.) I have lightly used toys at home. Can I donate those?

Though we appreciate all donations, we are asking that toys be new and unwrapped. Please donate as early as possible and by Monday, 12/13/2023 at the latest.

4.) Can I donate a gift card instead of a toy?

We are accepting gift card donations in $25 increments. We have a suggested list of stores to purchase gift cards from on our Toy List.

5.) I want to donate to Holiday Food Assistance. Can I donate food items? Where do I drop them off?

For our Holiday Food Assistance programs, we ask that you donate gift cards, preferably from Stop and Shop or Shaws $10, $20 and $25 increments. Donations to the Holiday Food Assistance Programs should be dropped off at our Temporary Food Pantry which is location across the street from the Center.

6.) I want to donate a toy but I do not know what to buy. What do I get?

If you are having trouble deciding what to donate, please check the suggested toy list found on the website. This list is organized by the age of the child receiving the gift and can make deciding much easier.

7.) Do you need volunteers to help with Holiday Programs?

It takes a lot of teamwork to make our Holiday Programs successful. There is so much to do before and during the programs. That is why we need volunteers like you. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Nancy Harten via email at nharten@mlkccenter.org or via phone at (401)846 –4828 x103.

8.) I want to host a Toy/ Gift Card Drive but don’t know where to start.

Toy drives by businesses, organizations, and individuals are greatly needed and appreciated. If you are interested in doing a toy/gift card drive, please contact Melanie Saunders, msaunders@mlkccenter.org or 846-4828 x124 to schedule the drive and delivery date.