Opportunities From: The Stewpot

The Stewpot’s mission is to love and serve our neighbors so they can overcome homelessness and poverty.

The Stewpot’s Food Pantry is a great volunteer opportunity for individuals and groups. We’re open Monday through Friday, 9 AM - 3 PM, providing free groceries to anyone - no ID, income, or residency requirements. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome.

Location: 1610 S Malcolm X, Bldg. 350. Enter through the black gate, drive to the back of Bldg. 350, and use the rear entrance (see map below). Please park anywhere except the spaces directly by the back doors, which are reserved for neighbors loading groceries.

Upon arrival, you’ll check in and receive a nametag (mobile check-in available). Our Volunteer Services team and Food Pantry staff will guide you through your role…we’re excited to have you join us!

Volunteer Requirements for the Food Pantry:

Volunteer Roles Include (assigned by staff):

We are collecting children's books in both English and Spanish for the little ones who come through the Food Pantry. If you would like to donate books, please feel free to bring them when you come to volunteer or email volunteer@thestewpot.org to coordinate a drop-off time.

Do you have leftover paper or plastic bags from the grocery store? We would LOVE to have them! Just bring them to the Food Pantry, and they will be put to good use.

Thank you for your support and thank you for volunteering with The Stewpot!

The Stewpot is the sole meal provider at The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center which is located at 1818 Corsicana. At The Stewpot's Second Chance Café we serve three meals a day every day of the year! To do so we need volunteers to help serve food onto each tray, clean up, serve drinks, etc. All volunteers for Meal Services must be 18 years or older.

Meals are served at 1818 Corsicana Street. Please park in the parking lot at the corner of St. Paul and Corsicana in any open spot (see photo below). Enter through our kitchen door marked with a Stewpot sign (see second photo below). The door is sometimes locked, please ring the doorbell if so. It is near the pull-through loading area in the parking lot. We look forward to seeing you at 7:15 am for Breakfast, 11:45 am for Lunch, or 5:45 pm for Dinner. 

Meal Service Volunteers Must:

Be at least 18 years old 

Wear closed-toe shoes

Wear a ball cap or be prepared to wear a hairnet; have your hair pulled back 

Please Note:

The Stewpot is the sole meal provider at The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center which is located at 1818 Corsicana. At The Stewpot's Second Chance Café we serve three meals a day every day of the year! To do so we need volunteers to help serve food onto each tray, clean up, serve drinks, etc. All volunteers for Meal Services must be 18 years or older.

Meals are served at 1818 Corsicana Street. Please park in the parking lot at the corner of St. Paul and Corsicana in any open spot (see photo below). Enter through our kitchen door marked with a Stewpot sign (see second photo below). The door is sometimes locked, please ring the doorbell if so. It is near the pull-through loading area in the parking lot. We look forward to seeing you at 7:15 am for Breakfast, 11:45 am for Lunch, or 5:45 pm for Dinner. 

Meal Service Volunteers Must:

Be at least 18 years old 

Wear closed-toe shoes

Wear a ball cap or be prepared to wear a hairnet; have your hair pulled back 

Please Note:

We’re so excited to have you join The Stewpot community as a new volunteer! Our New Volunteer Orientation is your first step towards making a meaningful impact in the community. At the volunteer orientation, you'll: 

- Learn about The Stewpot's mission and vision.

- Learn about our many programs and different ways to get involved.

- Meet fellow volunteers and staff who will support you along the way.

- Tour our main campus at 1610 S Malcolm X.

Come ready to be inspired, ask questions, and start your journey of making a real impact in the community by becoming a Stewpot volunteer!

Please note, orientation is recommended but not required to begin volunteering! Also, feel free to join us even if it is not your first time volunteering! We would love to share all about The Stewpot with you! 

Please note this opportunity does not take place at The Stewpot. Please feel free to make the snack bags on your own and upon completion, reach out to The Stewpot to coordinate a drop off time. 

Snack Bags are gallon size ziploc bags or drawstring backpacks filled with nourishing snacks for hungry clients. Suggested items include:

- Bottle of water

- Electrolyte packet(s)

- Soft cereal bar

- Tuna Packets

- Pop top vienna sausages

- Individual cup of peanut butter

- An encouraging note (optional)

You do not have to follow this list exactly but everything must be prepackaged and ready to eat. No homemade items. Please keep in mind that many of our clients have dental issues making it difficult to eat hard foods such as nuts. Please do not include items that need a can opener or other device to open. Thank you for your support and partnership. We appreciate you! 

We suggest making at least 25 bags when you donate. You must arrange a dropoff with at least 2 business day's notice and please email volunteer@thestewpot.org to coordinate. Please note we can only accept donation drop offs on weekdays.

Need Service Hours for school, court, an organization, etc.? We offer 2 service hours for 25 snack bags. We do suggest you make sure your school, court, or organization allows hours for in-kind donations.

The Stewpot partners with a fellow nonprofit organization called Streetside Showers, to provide mobile shower services, clothing, and a hot lunch directly to our neighbors! We would love to have you join us!

Please Note: Streetside Showers now takes place at our new campus, 1610 S Malcolm X Blvd.

Please note that if there is inclement weather, showers may be cancelled. We will do our best to inform you in a prompt manner.

Pull into the black gate on the campus, you are welcome to park anywhere in the parking lot. Then go to just outside building 200 and a Stewpot staff person will be around the area marked with a star to get you set to volunteer.

Summer Crew is a fun time for all of our incoming 6th - 12th graders. Summer learning programs have positive impacts on students as they continue to engage in enrichment activities that are hands-on, educational, and enjoyable. Volunteers are asked to assist in the classroom, interact with the students, ensure student safety, and distribute meals during the program. 

We do ask that there's a commitment to a minimum of two sign-ups per individual and group. FYI a background check and safety training will need to be completed in order to volunteer with our Children & Youth programs for volunteers 18 and older. Once you sign up please email volunteer@thestewpot.org to get access to the background check and training information. Please note this process can take a few days, if do not have your check and training completed by 8am on the Friday before your volunteer shift you will be unable to volunteer. So please reach out over a week in advance of your volunteer shift to get the ball rolling.

Parking information: Come through the main front gate and drive around to the back of the church. We are in building C. There is a parking lot where you can park at the back. The building has a bell you can ring, in case it is locked.
Any big items, back packs, etc, should be left in your vehicle or at home.

Please ensure you eat lunch before arriving to volunteer or breakfast in the case of Friday volunteering.

Clothing: Please wear appropriate clothing. No short shorts/skirts, strap tanks, leggings have to be covered appropriately.

Cell Phone Use: Please refrain from using your cellphone while volunteering and please do not take pictures of the students.

Summer Kids' Club is a fun time for all of our incoming 1st - 5th graders. Summer learning programs have positive impacts on students as they continue to engage in enrichment activities that are hands-on, educational, and enjoyable. Volunteers are asked to assist in the classroom, interact with the students, ensure student safety, and distribute meals during the program. 

We do ask that there's a commitment to a minimum of two sign-ups per individual and group. FYI a background check and safety training will need to be completed in order to volunteer with our Children & Youth programs for volunteers 18 and older. Once you sign up please email volunteer@thestewpot.org to get access to the background check and training information. Please note this process can take a few days, if do not have your check and training completed by 8am on the Friday before your volunteer shift you will be unable to volunteer. So please reach out over a week in advance of your volunteer shift to get the ball rolling.

Parking information: Come through the main front gate and drive around to the back of the church. We are in building C. There is a parking lot where you can park at the back. The building has a bell you can ring, in case it is locked.
Any big items, back packs, etc, should be left in your vehicle or at home.

Please ensure you eat lunch before arriving to volunteer or breakfast in the case of Friday volunteering.

Clothing: Please wear appropriate clothing. No short shorts/skirts, strap tanks, leggings have to be covered appropriately.

Cell Phone Use: Please refrain from using your cellphone while volunteering and please do not take pictures of the students.

Please note this project is to be completed by you on your own time. Once you've bought everything and assembled a basket(s) then you can arrange to drop it off at The Stewpot. When you've completed a welcome basket(s) please reach out to John Swindle, johns@thestewpot.org, to coordinate a drop off time.

We ask that every item listed below please BE NEW. The goal is to present the items in the laundry basket but every item may not fit in the basket and that is ok. If you think there are necessities missing from the list, don't worry, many other items are covered by other sources. Thank you for supporting The Stewpot's newly housed clients.

If you cannot contribute everything to a Welcome Basket please try making a Bathroom Basket or a Cleaning Basket instead. To do so just use the items marked with a (B) or (C) for bathroom and cleaning products.

Need Service Hours for school, court, an organization, etc? We offer 4 service hours for a full Welcome basket or 2 hours for a smaller bathroom or cleaning basket. We do suggest you make sure your school, court, or organization allows hours for in-kind donations.

Want to donate in bulk? If you would like to donate a bulk amount of any of these items please reach out to us at donategoods@thestewpot.org

Questions or concerns? Please email JohnS@thestewpot.org for more information. Thank you again!