MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2007 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Harden, Butler, Chaney, Davis, Dawkins, Fillingane, Frazier, Gordon, Jackson (11th), Jordan, Lee (35th), Little, Pickering, Posey, Simmons, Walls, Wilemon
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING STEWPOT COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR ITS DEDICATION TO THOSE MOST IN NEED IN THE CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI AREA ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY.
WHEREAS, in 1981, representatives from seven churches in Jackson, Mississippi, came together across denominational lines, to discuss a problem they all had in common -- consistent requests for food and assistance from downtown Jackson's poor and homeless; and
WHEREAS, these seven churches -- Calvary Baptist, Capitol Street Methodist, Central Presbyterian, Galloway United Methodist, St. Andrew's Episcopal, St. Peters' Catholic and St. James Episcopal -- came together and created what is known today as Stewpot Community Services; and
WHEREAS, the original Stewpot was located on West Capitol Street in an old service station. From its beginning, Stewpot was originally housed in Central Presbyterian Church on West Capitol, on the western edge of downtown Jackson; and
WHEREAS, from its nativity, the goal of Stewpot has been to promote, develop, stimulate and encourage physical and spiritual development by providing nutritious meals, and the Stewpot kitchen was a success almost instantly; and
WHEREAS, the Community Kitchen provides a noon-time meal to anyone, no questions asked, seven days a week and has since served thousands of meals; and
WHEREAS, Stewpot ministry has expanded to include the Food Pantry grocery store that provides a four-day emergency supply of food to families; Sims House to shelter homeless women and children; the Billy Brumfield House, named for a man who died of hypothermia while sleeping in an old, abandoned car to provide shelter for up to 50 men per night; and Matt's House as an emergency, overnight shelter for women and children and assist them in their transition toward permanent shelter and employment; and
WHEREAS, Stewpot today offers 17 different programs, providing shelter to clothing to counseling to children's programs, and is a model for community service organizations around Mississippi and the nation; and
WHEREAS, Stewpot Community Services provided food, clothing and shelter to evacuees from South Mississippi during and after Hurricane Katrina; and
WHEREAS, Stewpot Community Services has strengthened the entire Jackson, Mississippi, community by uniting people of differing faiths, races and economic backgrounds in a common purpose to serve their fellow citizens; and
WHEREAS, Stewpot Community Services is celebrating its 25th Anniversary and looking forward to its future service to Jackson:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Stewpot Community Services, its founders, its numerous supporters, its staff and its Board of Directors for their tireless efforts to serve those most in need of a helping hand, a warm meal and clean bed, and extend to them the best wishes of the Legislature on this organization's 25th Anniversary.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be transmitted to the Board of Directors of Stewpot Community Services and be made available to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.