The Little Rock Stewpot Motto: “Feeding all who enter”.
The Little Rock Stewpot was located on the second floor of the First Presbyterian Church in Little Rock from 1972 to 2024. Stewpot served the first meal to 16 people in 1972. In 2023, it served over 50,000 meals. There is one full-time and one part-time paid employee. In August 2024, the Little Rock Stewpot partnered with the Salvation Army and moved into the Salvation Army building located at 1111 West Markham Street. The Little Rock Stewpot served its first meal at the Salvation Army on September 3, 2024.
The Little Rock Stewpot’s primary mission
The primary mission is to Feed the Hungry -“Feed whoever walks through our doors”. The Little Rock Stewpot is open from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday of each week, providing a meal to the homeless, jobless, elderly, physically or mentally disabled, and displaced families in the Greater Little Rock area. The Little Rock Stewpot has served over 1.5 million meals in the last 50 years.
Little Rock Stewpot Routine
Daily Lunches: Since the pandemic began, Little Rock Stewpot has adapted to meet changing requirements necessary to ensure our diners receive great meals every day. Little Rock Stewpot teams work from 9:00 – 11:00 daily to prepare food and fill sacks with a variety of food. The sacks are then distributed by Little Rock Stewpot employees. Diners come in a door from Cross Street, pick up their lunch, and return outside to eat their meal, Additionally, coffee, water and a variety of other beverages are offered daily.
Volunteers from many churches, community groups, and interested individuals from the area come in to help prepare food. Diners receive hot food at least 2-3 days a week, served in 12 oz. lidded cups tucked inside sacks already laden with peanut butter sandwiches, chips, desserts, and condiments.
Meals are served daily Monday through Friday from 12: a.m. to 1:00 p.m., except for holidays as listed below.
Stewpot Holidays
New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King Day
Good Friday
Memorial Day
Juneteenth
Independence Day (4th of July)
Labor Day
Thanksgiving
Friday after Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
The Stewpot is also closed one week in July for employee vacations and the week between Christmas and New Years Day
Around several holidays this year we have had special hot meals. For both Thanksgiving and Christmas, diners were served turkey and dressing, sweet potatoes, green beans and a special dessert. Greeting diners face-to-face is always wonderful.
Our diners have continued to increase over the last two years, with the average being 75 daily. If you are interested in volunteering, we certainly have openings available to suit your schedule.