Giving Back

The Venturing Crew and Junior Crew (our children and youth high school and junior high programs) spent part of their spring break giving back to the community.

On Monday, 10 Venturing Crew students served lunch at The Bridge. They served water and served behind the line. For most it was their first time to serve at The Bridge and they really enjoyed the experience.

On Wednesday, 18 Junior Crew and Venturing Crew students went to the Shoes for Orphan's Souls facility through Buckner. The group sorted new shoes and new Rangers shirts to be be sent overseas to orphans and other at risk children and families.

 Volunteering at The Bridge

 

Volunteering at Shoes for Orphans

In both programs, we teach the students to give back to the community that has given so much to them. The students have an opportunity to go on field trips, out of town trips and ultimately receive a college scholarship. In order to participate in many of these activities, community service hours are a requirement.

Free Outdoor Garden Concert @ 508 Park

Blues music will again fill the air at the historic 508 Park Ave. building on Saturday, March 23.

The free, all-ages Music @ 508 Park will feature guitarists Holland K. Smith, Hunter Hendrickson and Troy Cartwright delivering upbeat country music along with blues riffs and solos at the south side of 508 Park in the community garden, just east of The Stewpot. Gates open at 4 p.m. and the concert will conclude with an “All Star” jam by 7 p.m.

“We are excited to have a new generation of local blues and country artists stepping forward to pay tribute to the history of 508 Park, where artists such as Robert Johnson and Bob Wills & his Texas Playboys recorded,” said the Rev. Bruce Buchanan, executive director of the Stewpot. “This is the first in a series of concerts that 508 Park will host.”

Following the Stewpot Alliance’s successful Soup’s On fundraiser luncheon that focused on 508 Park, this friend-raising concert will celebrate music-making with our friends and neighbors. These local musicians donating their time and talent to perform will invite their fans, and we want to extend hospitality to them.

WHO:                    Holland K. Smith, Hunter Hendrickson and  Troy Cartwright

WHERE:               The Community Garden south of 508 Park Ave.  just east of The Stewpot

WHAT:                  Free all-ages Music @ 508 Park concert. Bring  your own chair and picnic.

WHEN:                 Saturday, March 23 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

WHY:                    To extend hospitality to our  friends and neighbors and to honor the history of local blues and country music recorded at 508 Park Ave.

Food Stabilization Program Continues to Grow

2013 kicked off with The Stewpot Children and Youth programs doing our family stabilization program monthly instead of quarterly which is what we did in 2012. The last Saturday of each month 98 families come to The Stewpot to receive a week’s worth of groceries as well as clothing and other services. In January, we had Parkland’s mobile mammogram unit come out and provide mammograms and education to 40 women. Many women had never received a mammogram before. We also have had representatives from the North Texas Food Bank and Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Dallas come out and provide information about programs they offer that could help meet the needs of the members of our Family Stabilization Program.

The families say that receiving the groceries is a budget relief. They are able to use the money they would have spent on groceries for other bills and expenses which is especially important with the tough economy and rising food costs. Ana Lira, a current client states: I have not been able to find work. The program has been so much help in reducing the amount of food that I have needed to buy from the grocery store. I was able to get 2 sweaters for my young daughters during the January food distribution. I chose sweaters that are a little larger than their current sizes so that they will be able to grow into them next year. I am happy that I have been able to save some money thanks to this program.

Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Last year a volunteer group from Starbucks was eager to come and serve on MLK day. It started a beautiful tradition of celebrating the pursuit of peace and equality among all people.

The tradition continued yesterday. A group of 11 Starbucks employees and a few family members came to lead a celebration service led by Michael Wyatt.

The afternoon started with what else, but some Starbucks coffee - a treat for everyone in attendance. Guests were invited to remember the legacy of Dr. King by reading quotes and excerpts from his speeches. And what's an event without some door prizes?

Maybe the most meaningful part of the afternoon was our time spent predicting and sharing our hopes for the next 25, 50, and 75 years concerning racial harmony in our community and throughout the world. Here are a few predictions and hopes for the future:

25 Years

• Some people hope to still be living
• Others predicted the return of Jesus
• There will be more organizations like The Stewpot and Union Gospel Mission to help people
• There will be peace and equality for all people 

50 Years

• There will be less homelessness 
• We will see the first female president elected in the United States

75 Years

• Some guests mentioned they'd like to see a better understanding of homelessness in 75 years and how to approach the issues involved
• No more slavery 
• No more hunger 

Hopefully we will see these predictions become reality. At the very least, we can play a part by sharing kindness each day!

 

Getting some coffee. 

Our awesome group of Starbucks volunteers. 

 Reading MLK Quotes.

2012 Women's Tea

Last Wednesday we hosted our annual Women's Tea here at The Stewpot. For years it's been an event that the ladies we serve look forward to, but we thought this year it could be bigger and better. And it really was with the help of so many people! Fourteen women volunteered as table hostesses, two ladies played live music, and several flower shops donated the centerpieces for the event.

I got to play a big role in planning the event along with one of my coworkers, Trina, and the help of two volunteers - Nancy and Robin. Brainstorming for the event started last December, but the real planning started in September. Everything quickly fell into place and we were just eager for the actual day! All we wanted was for these ladies to know how special they each are.

The tea started off with the famous Stewpot Fashion Show, followed by a fun game at each table, an encouraging word from our guest speaker, Wendy Fenn, and a meal. After the meal we opened up the floor to different "stations". The guests had a chance to visit different tables set up with makeup samples, perfume samples, desserts, coffee, hand scrubs, and a photo booth. I was standing at the makeup sample table, which just happened to be right by the restroom. There was a long line of ladies waiting to get in front of the mirror to put their new makeup on. We also had a bag bar full of different bags and purses. This was definitely the most popular station. The ladies could select something cute, not just practical. 

Too often the women we serve are defined as just "homeless", but there is so much more to each lady. These women have been blessed with different gifts and qualities that make them each so special. We were able to celebrate that!

The afternoon was full of singing, laughter, and smiles. The whole event was good for my heart. I left feeling grateful for so many things - the generosity of so many who made the tea possible, hope, and quality girl time!

Our guest speaker, Wendy, and one of our table hostesses, Margie

One of our tables working on the game at the beginning of the tea

 The fashion show is a hit each year thanks to Crossroads Community Services

 Another group of ladies at the tea

 

 Some of the arrangements provided for the tea. Arrangements in this photo were provided by Cebolla, Central Market Lovers Lane, Whole Foods Lakewood, and DIRT Design Studios

Arrangements in this photo provided by Central Market Preston Royal and McShan Florist

Other florists who contributed included: 

Mockingbird Florist

Petals and Stems

Stewpot Artists Annual Show

Stewpot Artists Annual Show

 Dallas Public Library Downtown

The Show is in the Bradshaw Gallery on the 4^th Floor

The opening is Sunday, December 2nd from 1:30 - 4:00. You are invited to visit with the artists and view their creations. The show will be on display through December 27th.

The J. Erik Jonsson Central Library is located at 1515 Young St. Dallas, TX 75201

The Stewpot Alliance will provide refreshments

Gallery Hours:
Sunday: 1PM-5PM
Tuesday, Wednesday: 10AM-5PM
Thursday: 12PM-8PM
Friday, Saturday: 10AM-5PM

25th Annual Stewpot Talent Show

Each year around Halloween we celebrate the talent our clients have with our annual talent show. This year the theme was "Big D: Dallas Has Talent". And what a fitting title it was. Prizes went out for essay, poetry, performance, visual art, and costume. Elise Longpree from Dallas Morning News Charities was our emcee. The Stewpot Alliance did an excellent job coordinating judges and decorating for the event. Check out some of the pictures below!

The incredible backdrop by our art program director, Cynthia Brannum.

 

 Two of our caseworkers, Virginia and Trina.

 Our meal service coordinators and some volunteers opened the show with a skit.

 Max - a performance contestant and first prize costume winner!

Janae blew us away with a song she wrote for her sister.

 Gerald impressed everyone again with his guitar skills. You may recognize him from a past blog. He won our "Robert Johnson Sound Alike" contest in June.

Lues won 2nd place in the visual art contest.

Mero won first place in visual art with his Dallas skyline.