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MLCS January 2026 Non-Profit of the Month: The Natchez Stewpot
- Ronnie Calhoun
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Just outside of downtown Natchez, there is a place doing essential work with quiet consistency. The Stewpot exists to make sure that when a neighbor is hungry, a hot meal is available, served with dignity and without judgment. It is one of those community anchors that keeps showing up, day after day, even when needs rise and resources tighten.
The Stewpot operates at 69 East Franklin Street in Natchez, Mississippi, and it is widely known as a reliable source of free hot meals for anyone who needs one. Public listings commonly note daily meal service from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. But what many people do not realize is that the mission reaches beyond the serving line. The Stewpot also supports meal delivery for residents who are homebound, including seniors, people living with disabilities, and neighbors who are sick or otherwise unable to consistently shop, cook, or travel for a meal. For many of these individuals, a delivered meal is not just food. It is a lifeline and a steady reminder that their community has not forgotten them.
Hunger rarely fits a single stereotype. Some neighbors are unhoused. Some are working but stretched thin by rising costs. Some are elderly and living alone. Some are recovering from illness or injury. Some are dealing with circumstances they never expected. The Stewpot meets people where they are. It provides nourishment, but it also provides routine and relief. It helps protect dignity in moments when life feels unstable.
Part of what makes The Stewpot a true champion is the way it reflects the best of Natchez. Community descriptions often refer to it as an interfaith, community supported effort, and that shared responsibility matters. Organizations like this thrive when churches, civic groups, businesses, and individuals all see the work as a collective calling. Volunteers cook, serve, clean, and deliver. Donors give what they can. Groups step up for scheduled service days. Behind the scenes, leadership coordinates the moving pieces so that meals keep going out even when supply chains change or funding gets complicated.
The impact is substantial. Public community statements in recent months have described The Stewpot as preparing and distributing roughly a few hundred meals per day, adding up to close to one hundred thousand meals over the course of a year. Other community coverage has described periods of even higher volume, with hundreds of meals served daily and a significant portion delivered to homebound residents. Those numbers matter because they point to a simple truth. The Stewpot is not a symbolic effort. It is one of the primary food safety nets for Natchez and the surrounding area.
That is why Miss Lou Champions Spotlight is naming The Stewpot our January 2026 Nonprofit of the Month. Champions are not only the people who get recognized publicly. Champions are often the ones doing the steady work that keeps a community healthy. The Stewpot is a champion organization because it serves consistently, it serves compassionately, and it gives the community a practical way to love its neighbor.
During this January spotlight, we want to encourage our audience to support The Stewpot in tangible ways. If you are able to give financially, even a small recurring gift helps turn into predictable meals. If you can volunteer, your time can directly increase capacity, whether that means helping prepare food, serving meals, or supporting delivery routes. If you cannot give money or time right now, you can still help by sharing the mission and inviting others to get involved. Visibility drives support, and support becomes meals on plates.
The Stewpot has proven that when a community chooses to take care of its own, real needs can be met with real consistency. This month, we are proud to spotlight an organization that feeds people every day and strengthens the Miss Lou by doing what matters most.
For more information and ways to support The Stewpot
Thank you to our Miss-Lou Champion Spotlight partners for helping us spotlight champions and spread positivity throughout the Miss-Lou:
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