NATCHEZ — Everyone in Natchez has the ability to receive at least one hot meal every single day, thanks to the continuous generosity of churches, businesses and individuals who give to the Natchez Stewpot.

Since 1985, the Natchez Stewpot — located on East Franklin Street — has been dishing out meals to those in need. Currently the Stewpot serves approximately 300 free meals every day to people in the Natchez community, said director Amanda Jeansonne.

More than half of those meals are delivered directly to the doors of the elderly, handicapped and shut-in Natchezians who do not have the means to travel.

“For some, the people making deliveries are the only faces they see that day,” she said. “Of course, they want to stay and chat a while, but there are a lot of other houses to go to. We try and do as much as we can while serving as many as we can.”

Alfonse Morgan said he moved from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina flooded the area in 2005. He has since made his home in Natchez and visits the Stewpot three or four times each week, he said.

“I found a job, thank God,” Morgan said. “Jobs are hard to find. … I work for Harris Construction as a cement worker. … I enjoy watching old folk come here and leaving with a smile. It made their day. People come in knowing they won’t go hungry for the day. Everybody isn’t able — and I’m one of the fortunate people.”

Morgan said it’s the neighborly and hardworking people who work and volunteer at the Stewpot that make it special, because “No one judges who you are,” he said.

Elrica Coleman said she has been volunteering at the Stewpot off and on for more than 20 years and now works there on a regular basis — cooking, cleaning, serving food and managing the inventory.

Over the years, Coleman said she’s seen people from all walks of life.

“There was a guy from Biloxi who was homeless and rode all the way here on a bicycle,” she said. “He didn’t have anywhere else to go and nothing else to eat.”

Jeansonne said the Stewpot opens its doors to serve meals seven days every week, including holidays and is always in need of donations.

Volunteer information and needed supplies can be found at natchezstewpot.com and include food as well as cleaning materials such as Dawn dish detergent, Pine-Sol and Clorox.

The Stewpot opens from 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to noon on Sunday.

Monetary donations are accepted at P.O. Box 298, Natchez, and food and supplies can be dropped off at the Stewpot between 7:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.