In November 2018, Random Acts encouraged all of our supporters to take part in our annual Endure4Kindness (E4K) event, and as always, you blew us away with your creativity and kindness. Money raised during E4K allows us to sponsor acts of kindness all around the world. Funds from E4K 2018 are also going toward fighting childhood hunger. Whether you challenged yourself with your own E4K activity, spread the word on social media, supported others with their E4K fundraising, or donated to The Bad Idea Tour, your participation is helping to make the world a better place. We love being able to share some of the ways that your hard work is helping to fight food insecurity.
Time to see how #RANoHungryChild helped in Mississippi!
Stewpot Community Services
Stewpot Community Services tackles many different needs in Jackson, Mississippi. In their own words: “Stewpot Community Services provides thousands of men, women, and children with hot meals, groceries, clothing, shelter, childcare, mentoring, and other programs to nurture them and help them get back on their feet.” Stewpot helps more than 650 people each day with their 17 different outreach programs. Their community kitchen serves a noon meal to more than 120 people each day and delivers meals to an additional 50 people who cannot leave home. Stewpot also operates a food pantry that runs “like a mini grocery store” during its weekday hours of operation. Over 1,000 families shop at the food pantry each month. Even more people are reached through Stewpot’s participation in Meals on Wheels.
More Than Food
Stewpot does not stop at fighting hunger though. They also operate an after school program, summer camp programs, a clothing closet that provides more than 100 people a month with free clothes for work and school, and two computer labs to give people free access to technology. But wait…there is even more! Stewpot runs health, counseling, and legal clinics so that the community can more easily access vital resources.
Among Stewpot’s larger-scale projects are their three shelters: the Opportunity Center, Billy Brumfield Shelter, and Matt’s House. The Opportunity Center is the only day shelter in Jackson. People staying at the Opportunity Center are able to take showers, do laundry, store their belongings, access telephones and computers, get mail, and receive case management services through the program. The Billy Brumfield Shelter is an emergency shelter for men that provides overnight shelter, showers, drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, and longer-term housing for disabled men while they work through applying for state and federal benefits. Matt’s House is an emergency shelter for women that provides overnight shelter, morning and evening meals, and assistance with rapid re-housing.
#RANoHungryChild Chips In
Thanks to your wonderful generosity, we were able to buy $2,000 worth of food donations for Stewpot’s food pantry. Random Acts focused on items that Stewpot marked as their most wanted foods for children. These included chocolate milk, peanut butter, noodle cups, cereal, breakfast bars, applesauce, and macaroni and cheese. All of the food was delivered directly to Stewpot Community Services so that they can keep doing what they do best—feeding the hungry in Jackson.
If you love what you just read about Stewpot Community Services, you can learn more about donating to or volunteering with them on their website.