NATCHEZ — Area residents can help support the Natchez Stewpot ministry Thursday by adding a few cans of vegetables to their grocery list.

The Adams County Board of Supervisors and Natchez Aldermen are supporting the Stewpot with a Pack the Pickup from 4 to 6 p.m. today in front of all local grocery stores Natchez Market No. 1 and No. 2, Walmart, Southside Market and Cash Saver.

Volunteer director of the Natchez Stewpot, Amanda Jeansonne, said Pack the Pickup is usually hosted by city leaders during the winter, but the need for supplies has pushed the event to this spring.

She said the Stewpot is in need of large cans of vegetable soup, bleach, Dawn dish cleaner, Pine-Sol cleaner and paper towels.

“The Stewpot is open seven days a week all year long, and we serve about 300 meals a day,” Jeansonne said. “It takes a lot of food to keep that going. We have people during the hunting season who donate venison. … This is very helpful for the other times of the year that we need food, too.”

City leaders have formed a unique combination of a canned food drive and the Stuff a Bus-type toy drive that is usually done during the winter holiday season to create Pack the Pickup.

Pickup trucks are parked outside of local grocery stores, and shoppers have the opportunity to help fill the trucks with the supplies the Stewpot needs, Jeansonne said.

“The supervisors … wanted to do what we needed,” she said. “We put a pretty good dent in our canned food supply.”

Jeansonne encourages Natchez area residents to participate and help the Stewpot feed the hundreds of hungry, elderly or shut-in people of Natchez.

“When you’re making your shopping list for Easter, be sure to include something for the Stewpot too,” Jeansonne said. “It is much appreciated.”

Story by  Sabrina Simms