Stewpot will Celebrate 50Years of Service in 2026
During 2026 Stewpot will mark 50 years of faithful service providing meals in downtown Little Rock "to all who enter." Through all these years, Stewpot has earned quite a legacy and reputation. It is rare to find a faith-based, volunteer-lead ministry that has continually been serving for five decades. The Board is discussing ways to use the whole year to affirm our past and look for new means of extending our efforts. We will keep you posted as plans develop.
Stewpot Board Tours Providence Park
Thanks to Errin Calhoun Stanger and Providence Park Homes for the tour riday, July 18 with Stewpot leadership and volunteers. Errin is the CEO of Providence Park. Providence Park is an innovative housing initiative aimed at providing ermanent, supportive, and sustainable housing to chronically homeless individuals in a community-driven environment. Emphasizing the importance of meeting basic needs to tackle homelessness at its core, this approach aims to
enhance quality of life, reduce societal costs, and foster a sense of belonging and stability for its residents. In partnership with Pulaski County and inspired by Austin’s Community First Village, Providence Park plans to house 400 tiny homes with full support services—medical, mental, dental—and income opportunities for central Arkansas’s chronically homeless. Providence Homes hope to have 10 homes built by the end of the year. Providence Park Homes is located at 6900 Green Rd, Mabelvale, AR 72103.
Celebrating One Year in Our New Home 
This month marks a significant milestone for Stewpot: our one-year anniversary at the Salvation Army Building. After spending nearly 50 years in the same location at the First Presbyterian Church, the idea of relocating brought understandable uncertainty. But now, looking back, the move has proven to be a year of growth, collaboration, and overwhelmingly positive change. From the very beginning, working alongside Majors Kenny and Julie has been both exciting and mutually beneficial. Their leadership and presence have made a lasting impression. They regularly stop by to greet both staff and volunteers, creating a warm and supportive environment. The Salvation Army has graciously welcomed us, even allowing us to use the boardroom for meetings, which has greatly enhanced our ability to organize and plan. One of the biggest joys of our new space has been the kitchen. It’s hard to overstate the delight of being able to prepare fresh cornbread, cinnamon rolls, and cobblers for our diners. The improved facilities have helped us better serve our community and made the daily work feel even more rewarding. An unexpected bonus has been the strong sense of teamwork with the Salvation Army staff. Whether it’s cleaning, unloading deliv eries, or taking on shared projects, inside and out, everyone is working toward a common goal: serving those in need with dignity and compassion. As we celebrate this first year in our new home, we’re filled with gratitude and hope. Stewpot looks forward to continuing this congenial and productive relationship with the Salvation Army for many years to come.
Salvation Army Perspective
Over the past year, The Salvation Army of Central Arkansas has been blessed to partner with Stewpot Ministries by opening our dining hall and kitchen for the daily lunch program. This collaboration has not only maximized the use of our building but has also trengthened our shared mission to serve those in need within our community. Together, we’ve seen lives touched
through a warm meal, a kind word, and the consistent presence of caring people. As Ecclesiastes 4:9 reminds us, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” The staff and volunteers of Stewpot have been a joy to work alongside. Their dedication and compassion have been a blessing not only to the individuals they serve but also to our own team as we minister daily to those who come through our doors. We are truly grateful for this partnership and look forward to
continuing to serve side by side, bringing hope, dignity, and love to our neighbors in Central Arkansas.
Blessings, Major Kenny Igleheart
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