Champion Work: Sparklight Presents Five Thousand Dollar Grant Check to Natchez Community Stewpot

The Natchez Community Stewpot has been selected for a charitable grant from Sparklight, and the support is already in hand. On January 19, Sparklight presented a five thousand dollar check to the Stewpot to help strengthen its day to day ability to serve neighbors facing food insecurity.

This one matters to us at Miss Lou Champions Spotlight. The Stewpot was our January Nonprofit of the Month, and we have seen how consistently they show up for people who need a meal and a safe place to land.

We also want to highlight a full circle moment behind this. Back in October, we brought George King, Gulf Coast Region Marketing Director for Sparklight, on our show to spread the word about this grant opportunity and encourage nonprofits across the Miss Lou to apply. We are proud that the Stewpot was one of the organizations selected to receive funding.

Photo Credit: Sparklight Press Release

What the grant supports

Sparklight shared that the grant is intended to fund the replacement of refrigeration equipment. That is not a flashy need, but it is one of the most important ones. Reliable cold storage helps a nonprofit safely hold food, protect quality, reduce waste, and keep meal service moving without interruption. Sparklight noted that the Stewpot prepares close to ninety five thousand meals each year, so equipment upgrades directly support the pace and scale of what they do.

Community partnership in action

Sparklight also pointed to the Stewpot as a key local lifeline for families who are struggling right now. The Stewpot’s director, Beverly Adams, expressed appreciation not only for the grant, but also for Sparklight’s volunteer support connected to the Stewpot food pantry. That combination of funding plus hands on service is what real community partnership looks like.

Photo Credit: Natchez Stewpot Facebook

A larger effort with local impact

The Stewpot grant is part of a broader cycle of giving through the Sparklight Charitable Giving Fund. In its most recent round, Sparklight reported awarding more than one hundred twenty five thousand dollars to twenty five nonprofit organizations across the communities it serves. The fund prioritizes projects that create lasting local impact, with focus areas that include education and digital literacy, food insecurity, and community development. Sparklight also reports that since the fund began in 2020, it has awarded more than one point two million dollars to more than two hundred seventy five nonprofits.

For other nonprofits that want to apply

Sparklight states that applications are accepted during open periods each spring and fall. The spring 2026 application window is scheduled for April 1 through April 30, 2026.

Congratulations again to the Natchez Community Stewpot. We are grateful for partners who invest in practical needs that keep missions strong, and we love seeing Miss Lou organizations get the support they have earned.

For more information about the Sparklight Charitable Giving Fund, please visit www.sparklight.com/charitablegiving.

Thank you to our Miss-Lou Champion Spotlight partners for helping us spotlight champions and spread positivity througout the Miss-Lou: