Stewpot Receives Socks
and Underwear from Bombas
In May 2025, Little Rock Stewpot received 12 boxes containing a total of 3,000 pairs of Bombas socks. Socks included various sizes and included both over the calf and ankle socks. A month later Stewpot received 29 boxes containing a total of 2200 pieces of Bombas underwear. The underwear included various sizes of men’s boxers and T- shirts and various sizes of Women's T-shirts and briefs. Due to lack of storage space at The Salvation Army facility, the socks and underwear were shipped and stored at Ferncliff. Emily Hooker, Director of Mission & Outreach for Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center, was responsible for storing and distributing the socks. Bombas socks and underwear cannot be sold but can be donated to charities and nonprofit organizations.
Bombas Socks
Bombas Underwear
1st Wednesday Group Prepares Stewpot Meal
The 1st Wednesday Group assembled at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 7th, and prepared 72 meals for the Stewpot diners. The 1st Wednesday group is composed of individuals primarily from Westover Hills Presbyterian Church along with a few members from other churches. The meal included a cup of hot Hoppin' John, a cup of sliced peaches, a peanut butter sandwich (jelly was included in a separate package), a bag of chips, and a plastic spoon. Jason prepared the Hoppin' John which is a hearty Southern dish of rice, ham, turnip greens,tomatoes, chicken broth, garlic, salt, pepper, Cajun seasoning, sauteed onions and green peppers and a little dash of love.
Some of the 1st Wednesday Group
Preparing the Food
The Food
Jason Cooks Special Meal for Stewpot
Jason, Stewpot Day Manager, is always looking for new menu items for the Stewpot diners. On Wednesday, June 4th, he cooked Shepherd’s Pie. Shepherd's pie is a traditional British casserole typically made with a ground meat and vegetable filling, topped with mashed potatoes. While often called "shepherd's pie," it's also known as "cottage pie," and some recipes may use beef instead of lamb. The key difference between the two is the meat: shepherd's pie traditionally uses ground lamb, while cottage pie uses ground beef. Jason used ground beef, mixed vegetables, sauteed onions and peppers, salt, pepper, garlic beef gravy with mashed potatoes on top. It was delicious!
Preparing Shepherd's Pie
Stewpot Receives Grant
Last month the Arkansas Food Bank brought to ourattention that nonprofits working with them could apply for up to $5,000 to build up their organizational capacity to feed the food-insecure people we serve. Stewpot decided that helping with the repair of our walk-in freezer was the highest priority. The grant was submitted, and we were notified that we will be receiving the full $5,000. This will give Stewpot more freezer storage space to accept donations. The total cost for the repair of the walk-in freezer will be approximately $15,000. Stewpot will be looking for additional funding to complete the project.
STEWPOT Celebrates Jason's Birthday
On Wednesday, May 14th, the Stewpot helped Jason celebrate his 43rd birthday. Jason is the Day manager of the Stewpot and is responsible for the daily operations. Jason plans and cooks many of the meals for the Stewpot diners. His celebration was a surprise and included cake and ice cream for Jason and some of the Stewpot workers, as well as some of the Salvation Army staff.
Pizza for the Stewpot
On Wednesday, May 14th, Arkansas Health & Wellness (AHW) sponsored a special treat for the diners at the Stewpot. AHW bought 30 sausage and pepperoni pizzas from Little Caesars and patrons of all ages received first (and seconds!) of hot, fresh and tasty pizza. Jason Benbrook of the Stewpot celebrated his birthday and was kind enough to serve as a "taste tester" for the pepperoni variety. There was enough pizza to share with the Salvation Army residents for dinner. AR Health and Wellness is best known locally for sponsoring health insurance products under its Ambetter brand.
Stewpot Cookout
Executives from Arkansas Health & Wellness (AHW) met at the Salvation Army onFriday (the 6rh of June) to grill hamburgers and bratwurst for lunch for the Stewpot diners! Besides all the good stuff that goes with burgers and dogs (buns, relish, mayo, mustard, etc.), AHW provided an assortment of chips, soft drinks, and the always popular Little Debbie snack cakes. While the turnout was a bit lower than expected, the extras were kept by the Salvation Army for the weekend, so nothing got wasted! Arkansas Health & Wellness is an Arkansas Health Plan best known for its lines of business: Wellcare, Allwell, Ambetter, Arkansas Total Care and QualChoice of AR and is owned by St. Louis-based Centene Corporation.
The Cooks
The Food
Hamburger and Bratwurst with Condiments
Nexstar’s Founders Day Brings
Community Spirit to Stewpot
Friday, June 20 was a red-letter day at Stewpot, as we had the pleasure of welcoming a dynamic group of volunteers from Nexstar in celebration of their Founders Day of service. We were honored to be chosen once again as one of the organizations where their team could make a meaningful impact. From the moment they arrived, the energy was contagious. With enthusiasm and purpose, the group jumped right into our project for the day: assembling special care bags for our diners. Thanks to Stewpot’s role as a local distribution point for the Bomba’s sock program, we were able to fill each reusable bag with essentials including a pair of socks, a t-shirt, and underwear — with options for both men and women. The bags also included a selection of snacks and treats: fruit cups, Slim Jim’s, Vienna sausages, Chips Ahoy cookies, Cheez-Its, and a pack of nuts — all small comforts that mean a great deal to those we serve. Once the bags were assembled, our volunteers shifted gears and headed to the buffet line, ready to serve up a hearty meal and meet the community face-to-face. The day’s menu featured BBQ sandwiches, homemade potato salad, baked beans, and coleslaw, topped off with a sweet treat of Zingers for dessert. Volunteers handed each diner a goodie bag at the end of the line — and there was enough food for seconds, even thirds for some. We are deeply thankful to Nexstar for choosing Stewpot as one of their Founders Day service sites. Their commitment to giving back brought joy, nourishment, and a powerful sense of community to everyone involved. Together, we made a difference.
Churches Making Donations to the Stewpot
The following List of chuches made donations to the Stewpot in 2024. If your church is not listed, you might want to check with the Financial officer in your church. CHURCH Christ Episcopal Church Park Hill Presbyterian Church Saint Mark's Episcopal Church Presbytery of Arkansas Trinity Cathedral Parish Grace Presbyterian Church Trinity Presbyterian Church Westover Hills Presbyterian Church Second Presbyterian Church
CHURCH
Christ Episcopal Church
Park Hill Presbyterian Church
Saint Mark's Episcopal Church
Presbytery of Arkansas
Trinity Cathedral Parish
Grace Presbyterian Church
Trinity Presbyterian Church
Westover Hills Presbyterian Church
Second Presbyterian Church
