The Stewpot

Birthday Fun

2012-01-11T09:44:00.000-06:00

I love birthdays! I love my own, and I love celebrating the birthdays of my friends and family. I get so excited about presents for my husband that I can never keep the gift a secret. Birthdays are so fun! A lot of people have a birthday tradition they love. It may be a meal at a certain restaurant, or a special breakfast each year. Our staff here at The Stewpot is like a family, and we've

Women's Tea

2012-01-10T08:56:00.000-06:00

Women's tea was a huge success thanks to our staff, visiting agencies, and volunteers! This year we had representatives from: Parkland Hospital Turtle Creek Recovery Attitudes and Attire Genesis Women's Shelter Martha's House Crossroads Community Services Dallas County Health and Human Services Planned Parenthood (HIV Testing) Each agency came to share the services they provide, and how the

Feline Newsmakers

2011-11-30T10:00:00.001-06:00

Any visit to the Stewpot needs to include saying "Hello" to Precious, our 2nd floor feline resident. She's a "Working Cat" and keeps other four legged visitors and some two-legged ones as well in check. She's a great companion and is very well informed about the Fine Arts (a la the Stewpot's Open Art Studio) and knows the ins and outs of Food Pantry management. About three weeks ago Precious came

A Day of Celebration!

2011-11-02T09:26:00.001-05:00

Last Thursday was truly a special day here at The Stewpot. We had our 24th Annual Stewpot Talent Show and a special lunch honoring Dr. and Mrs. Elgin Ware. Dr. and Mrs. Elgin Ware were instrumental in bringing medical services here to The Stewpot in 1999. For 12 years, Elgin and Karen served our clients each Friday with the help of several volunteers. In June, Dr. Ware retired, and we were

Holiday Project

2011-10-26T08:59:00.000-05:00

Can you believe October is almost over? Thanksgiving is just 4 weeks away! Each holiday season we are blown away by the generosity of so many people in our community. Our holiday meal services are already full, however, we have a great opportunity for you and your families (or co-workers, church groups, book clubs, etc.) to serve our homeless friends. Every year we ask for people to donate a "

The Value of Volunteers

2011-10-19T09:23:00.000-05:00

It's no secret that the staff of The Stewpot is unable to accomplish everything we do on our own. Our volunteers play a vital role in all of our programs. Did you know we have 42 volunteers each day just for meal services? On top of that volunteers help us: sign people up for services hand out toiletries sort mail teach computer classes manage budgets for Representative Payee clients teach art

phoneless. not hopeless.

2011-10-12T08:39:00.000-05:00

Today we want to share some encouraging feedback from one of our Community Voice Mail clients. He receives a free voicemail number through our program. “Good afternoon, this is Richard Sams. Listen, I just can’t thank you enough to First Presbyterian Church and Community Voice Mail for providing me this number – it has helped me get into a veterans rehabilitation program, it’s also working

Women's Tea

2011-09-30T10:04:00.001-05:00

A few years ago I was reading a book about humanity and how we're wired - why we do what we do, why we want what we want. The book began with a story from the liberation of the concentration camp, Bergen-Belsen in Germany. The story came from the diary of Lieutenant Colonel Mervin Willett Gonin DSO who was one of the first British soldiers in the camp. It was shortly after the British Red Cross

Open House Art Show

2011-09-21T10:11:00.000-05:00

These cooler temperatures have been great, haven't they? Fall is just around the corner which means the holiday season isn't too far off. Why not get a jump start on shopping this Saturday, September 24th? The Stewpot 2nd Floor Art Gallery will be open from 3-7PM for all who want to enjoy several styles of art in one place. Our "Open Art Studio" is open 5 days a week to artists to come and

Jobs!

2011-09-14T10:46:00.000-05:00

It's been a great couple of weeks here at The Stewpot! One of our programs, STEP, focuses on job readiness - resumes, job searches, conflict resolution skills, etc. STEP last 3 months and is coordinated by our casework services team. Our most recent class started in August. Five participants were enrolled and in less than a month 3 have full time jobs and one more has a call back! We are ecstatic

Volunteers Needed

2011-08-31T11:55:00.001-05:00

Fall is just around the corner and the Children and Youth Programs are already busy planning for the school year programs. We have several volunteer opportunities that we are looking to fill! Venturing Crew and Junior Crew - Tutors are needed to help middle and high school students with homework. The Venturing Crew (high school age) will have tutoring the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Wednesdays from 6:30-7

A Volunteer Giving Back

2011-08-24T13:32:00.001-05:00

Our representative payee program has grown a lot in the last year! Both our caseworkers and an incredible group of volunteers have worked really hard to successfully advocate for clients in the program. One representative payee volunteer in particular has been recognized by her employer. Linda Jones was selected from 500 Wells Fargo employee applicants to receive the 2011 Volunteer Service

Donor Bridge - September 15th

2011-08-17T11:30:00.000-05:00

Get ready! The 2011 “Get Up & Give” North Texas Giving Day is quickly approaching. And we need your help! On Thursday, September 15th from 7AM-7PM you can make a donation through Donor Bridge to benefit The Stewpot. All donations over $25 will be matched, which means your donation goes even further. Help us spread the word and plan to make your donation that day. More information can be found

Children and Youth Program Scholarships

2011-08-14T09:24:00.000-05:00

This past spring, 100% of the senior graduates of The Stewpot’s Venturing Crew program made plans to go to college. This is fabulous news, bucking the trend that 70% of Hispanic youth in DISD drop out of high school. A total of 45 former Stewpot youth participants are enrolled in college this fall with CM scholarships funding 2011-2012. Congratulations to: Erika Ayala at UT Arlington; Sergio

Happy 65th!

2011-08-10T10:54:00.001-05:00

Last week was a very special week at The Stewpot. Our very own, Judy Pfenniger, celebrated her 65th birthday! Judy is our intake coordinator and has been working at The Stewpot for over 20 years. She is a special part of this place and it just wouldn't be the same without her. Our clients love Judy. And she loves them. Once you meet her, you'll never forget her! We started off the week with a

Dallas Area Cooling Centers

2011-08-04T09:59:00.002-05:00

SALVATION ARMY COOLING STATIONS Dallas Temple (Love Field Area) Open Mon.-Fri; 9AM-4PM 6500 Harry Hines Blvd. Dallas, TX 75235 (214) 956-6025 Oak Cliff Open Mon.-Fri; 9AM-4PM 1617 W. Jefferson Dallas, TX 75208 (214) 941-5911 or 5914 Cedar Crest (East Oak Cliff) Open Mon.-Fri; 9AM-4PM 1007 Hutchins Road Dallas, TX 75203 (214) 941-7404 Pleasant Grove Open Mon.-Fri; 9AM-4PM 8341 Elam Road

Skyline High School's "A Walk That Feeds"

2011-08-03T08:27:00.002-05:00

The Stewpot is pleased to announce that The Stewpot’s "Loaves and Fishes" program will benefit from the monetary donations collected by high school students at “A Walk that Feeds” on Saturday, September 24, 2011 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM (CT). If you would like to register, you may sign up at http://awalkthatfeeds.eventbrite.com/

Mary.

2011-07-28T14:29:00.002-05:00

A lot of people have their ideas about why people become homeless. Or why people can't get it "together". If you become involved in The Stewpot's ministry, or the work of another organization serving the homeless, you quickly realize how hard people are working. I had the chance to sit down with a lady (we'll call her Mary) who had received assistance from The Stewpot and other agencies around

Mental Health Day 2011

2011-07-20T09:07:00.000-05:00

Each summer The Stewpot invites local mental health agencies to come and share their services with our clients. Our hope is that our friends would get connected with the right agency to receive assistance and care. This year we were happy to host ADAPT, Transicare, NAMI, ABC Behavioral Health, and LifeNet. Each agency was able to share with clients what they do and how clients could get

Street Zine vendor makes the news

2011-07-18T23:11:00.000-05:00

Downtown Dallas "Statue Man" Sweats It Out

Feast of St. Martha at The Grape

2011-07-13T10:33:00.001-05:00

Restaurateurs and service veterans Courtney and Chef/Owner Brian C. Luscher of The Grape on Greenville celebrate the 2nd annual Feast of St. Martha, Thursday, July 28 – Saturday July 30. Honoring St. Martha, the patron saint of servers and cooks, Chef Brian will feature a 3-course set menu nightly for $38 per person, $55 with wine pairings. $5 from each prix-fixe menu will benefit the Stewpot

Do What You Love

2011-07-06T10:20:00.000-05:00

The Kingdom of which Christ spoke was one in which the poor, the sick, the grieving, crippled, slaves, women, children, widows, orphans, lepers, addicts, prostitutes, mentally disabled, prisoners, and aliens-the “least of these (Matt. 25:40)-were to be lifted up and embraced by God. I grew up exposed to adults struggling with a wide range of addictions. After several years of watching them

The Future of 508 Park Avenue: Second Chances for a Historic Building

2011-06-28T16:08:00.001-05:00

On June 28th, 2011, The Stewpot/Community Ministries of First Presbyterian Church of Dallas completed the purchase of 508 Park Avenue, Dallas, and the adjoining properties on either side of it, 1900 Young and 1905 Canton. 508 Park has received national and international attention because of its unique history as one of only two locations where the legendary blues musician Robert Johnson recorded.

Summertime with the Children & Youth Program

2011-06-27T09:03:00.001-05:00

The Stewpot’s Children and Youth Program are off to a great start since we kicked off on June 13! Summer Crew has been doing some exciting activities. They took a field trip to Half Price Books to pick out a book to read for the summer and they will be doing activities based on their book. They are also doing an architect project led by Oscar, one of the Summer Crew staff that has an architect

Grocery Shopping for a Cause

2011-06-22T13:30:00.000-05:00

Several grocery stores have incentive programs like Tom Thumb's Reward Card or Kroger's Plus Card. These can be linked to The Stewpot and a percentage of the purchase benefits us! Easy, right? The three stores you can do this at are Tom Thumb, Albertson's, and Kroger. Tom Thumb: Link your Reward Card to #1507. This remains active year round. Albertson's: Scan a barcode each time you purchase

Let's eat!

2011-06-15T11:05:00.001-05:00

In 1975 First Presbyterian Church saw a need to start feeding the homeless and hungry. They called the meal service "The Stewpot". By the early 1990s, the program, which now included casework services, had grown so much we moved across the street into our present building. Over 30 years and several additional programs later, The Stewpot is still working hard to make sure our friends on the

Staying Connected

2011-06-09T08:47:00.003-05:00

You know how disconnected you feel when you leave your phone at home or in the car? No one can reach you and if something happens you won't know. Now imagine not having a phone and how disconnected you would be all the time. The Stewpot serves as the host agency for Dallas Community Voicemail, a program providing free voicemail numbers to those who need it. People receive a phone number with a

Dallas Heritage Village Partnership

2011-06-01T14:51:00.000-05:00

The Stewpot's STEP program targets homeless individuals living on the streets or in a shelter. Participants are placed in small groups led by Stewpot caseworkers who offer job readiness training, job search assistance, case management, voice mail, and other benefits. The STEP program has partnered with Dallas Heritage Village to give participants a special opportunity. Clients have been hired

Stewpot Children & Youth Programs Director named Alumna of the Year

2011-05-16T11:52:00.000-05:00

Suzanne Dwight Suzanne Dwight, LMSW, Director of Children & Youth Programs at The Stewpot, is an inaugural graduate of Baylor University's Masters program at the School of Social Work. Suzanne was named Alumna of the Year, and was recognized at a dinner at Baylor on April 28th. Chosen for her work as a congregational social worker with children and youth in inner-city Dallas, Suzanne

Homeless artists to paint murals in Deep Ellum’s Pillar Park

2011-04-05T09:46:00.000-05:00

The Stewpot Open Art Program has 20 artists working on proposals for Pillar Park. Their work will be displayed April 13 at an exhibit, where guests can vote on the eight best pieces for the eights sides of the pillars. The winning artists will each receive a $200 stipend and paint supplies. The art exhibit and judging will be from 4:30 to 6 p.m. April 13 at the Deep Ellum Foundation, 2630 E.

The Stewpot Open Art program shares similar strategy with a homeless art program in Atlanta.

2011-03-28T12:03:00.000-05:00