NATCHEZ — If loading Santa’s sleigh sounds like work, try packing his pickup.

Adams County employees will try to “pack the pickup” with food donations Thursday night to benefit The Stewpot.

Adams County Board of Supervisors President Darryl Grennell said teams of county employees would be outside Natchez grocery stores from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, asking for donations of nonperishable food items.

The Stewpot has been operating in Natchez since 1985 and delivers approximately 200 meals a day to primarily elderly, disabled and ill residents. The Stewpot also serves approximately 100 meals daily to those who visit the organization’s East Franklin Street location.

The Stewpot has only two paid employees and is dependent on volunteers to keep its doors open.

Grennell said the response in recent years has been impressive.

“I have been overwhelmed with the generosity of the people of Natchez and Adams County,” hesaid.

Participants often donate an entire case of canned goods, Grennell said, and often teams need additional trucks to carry the goods back to The Stewpot.

Grennell said each county supervisor, as well several other county officials, would each claim a grocery store and compete to see who could collect the most food.

Last year, Grennell said Adams County employees loaded up 8 pickups, two of which were attributed to his team.

“I won last year,” Grennell said. “Whoever wins gets bragging rights.”