On All Saints' Day Tuesday, FPC Dallas and The Stewpot opened up the Encore Park Dallas amphitheater for a worship service to remember the people who lost their lives this past year while living on the streets. We read the names and tolled the bell for the 135 people we knew and the countless others we didn't. We hugged, reminisced, broke bread together, and remembered. Ribbons were hung for those we wanted to acknowledge.
Forefront Living’s 2022 Each Moment Matters Luncheon last Friday, September 23 was an afternoon full of enthusiastic family and friends gathered to witness Executive Director, Brenda Snitzer as she was recognized for “striving diligently to be an agent for change in her community.” Congratulations Brenda!
Executive Director of The Stewpot, Brenda Snitzer was nominated and chosen to be a 2022 honoree at the 13th Annual Each Moment Matters Luncheon featuring keynote speaker, Melissa Gilbert.
Jana Shafer is The Stewpot’s new Director of Philanthropy and Engagement.
Jana has many years of experience in fundraising and serves as a collaborative leader. She also comes to The Stewpot from a very special organizational partner, Crossroads Community Services, where she served as Development Director/Director of Major Gifts at Crossroads since April of 2019.
“ Each person is important. Each person deserves to be helped. ”
I was introduced to The Stewpot in 2008, not long after I graduated college. I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do “when I grew up” and where I wanted to land. I started volunteering at The Stewpot’s Second Chance Café each week. Immediately, I knew this was where I wanted to be. I found my place.
Several months into volunteering, I accepted a position on staff at The Stewpot. I transitioned to some different roles in my time there. After my first son was born, I decided to stay home, but a part of me was still at The Stewpot! I volunteered when I could, and eventually accepted my current role as The Stewpot Alliance coordinator. If you don’t know what The Stewpot Alliance is, you can learn more about the group here.
My time at The Stewpot has given me the unique opportunity to see The Stewpot in action from all perspectives. Clients have become friends. They always greet me with a hug and check in on my family. From the top down, the staff is absolutely incredible. Stewpot volunteers are some of the most faithful people I’ve ever met. And the donors blow me away with their generosity. The phrase “It takes a village” comes to mind. The staff uses their expertise, the volunteers use their time, and the donors use their resources to make it all happen! It’s so beautiful to see.
If I had to pick just one reason why I love The Stewpot so much, it’s this: They work hard to affirm the inherent dignity in each and every person. No matter where a person is on his/her journey, that individual is welcome at The Stewpot. That, to me, is the most important work to be done. It looks different in each program, but the heart of the mission remains the same: Each person is important. Each person deserves to be helped.
For me, The Stewpot is a chance to live out the gospel. There is a creator God, who made each person in His image. I get to show people his love and care, because He first loved me. It’s where my family and I serve together. Each of my boys has spent time at The Stewpot helping me with projects. My husband and I have served meals with our church home group. And (when it’s safe to gather) we get with our friends’ families to assemble Summer Survival Kits and Holiday Boxes.
So, I hope you’ll consider a gift to The Stewpot on North Texas Giving Day. I think sometimes we give and the donation feels a little abstract. But your gift translates into something very real for so many people. Maybe it’s a meal, or maybe it’s a college scholarship. Your donation is making a huge impact in the life of another person.
“This program has been able to provide the linkage needed to help its participants thrive. ”
The Stewpot’s Representative Payee Program provides free casework assistance to persons suffering from mental illness, chemical dependency, or physical disabilities, and who are unable to manage their federal benefits independently, including Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability.
The goal of this program is to prevent at risk persons from moving into homelessness and maintain independent living. The program achieves these goals by having the client meet once weekly with their caseworker to discuss needs. The caseworker is able to assist the client with a variety of needs such as finding affordable housing, assisting with medical care, and applying for additional benefits i.e. SNAP.
Both client and caseworker discuss and agree upon a monthly budget that the client must adhere to. The caseworker has the responsibility of assuring that all bills and debts (rent, utilities, medical) are paid in a timely manner. Clients also receive a weekly allowance for discretionary spending. Per the social security administration, persons are allowed to use funds for discretionary spending in any manner they please.
Individuals are referred to the program by a variety of sources. Mental health agencies and other social service agencies frequently refer clients to the program. The local social security office provides about one-third of new client referrals.
Currently, the Rep Payee program serves approximately 45 clients. Pre COVID-19, payee assistance was provided by two caseworkers and 3 volunteers. Approximately 90% of clients had regular scheduled visits with their caseworker once weekly with flexibility in scheduling based upon client’s need. During COVID-19, all volunteer opportunities have been suspended and clients are able to meet with a caseworker by appointment only on a bi-weekly schedule.
It has been important to keep the representative payee program active during this time to assure individuals continue to get the assistance they need. Many of the people served do not have support systems and a number of the resources previously available to clients are not as easily accessible at this time. This program has been able to provide the linkage needed to help its participants thrive.
Since the Representative Payee Program is a free service and provides a more case management approach, it is important that the client load reflect the ability to provide adequate service. In the future, we have a goal to be able to provide payee assistance to at least 60 individuals.
Courtney Ray Riddle, Manager of Client Services
“The Stewpot is an incredibly rewarding experience that allows for: perspective, increased understanding, and a chance to make a difference. ”
The employees at ORIX USA have been fortunate enough to be involved at The Stewpot for the last few years. I joined the company 2 years ago and was immediately encouraged to volunteer with an amazing group: The Stewpot! Since then, ORIX has been volunteering with the Stewpot each month and many employees express it as the highlight of their week. I could confidently speak on behalf of everyone with ORIX, that volunteering at the Stewpot has made us closer as a team and help us to understand the value that we can deliver if we all come together. This offers benefits not only to our corporate culture, but to each of our personal lives as well. In my own life, The Stewpot has introduced me to an incredible group of clients that have been a constant example of resilience, joy, and gratitude.
A fond memory of the group is when The Stewpot served a special breakfast of Chicken and Waffles! The simple treat brought so much joy to all of the clients, and getting to witness that was a truly moving moment. The happiness was contagious and each member of the ORIX team left knowing that small acts of kindness can yield huge results.
Lee Ann Denman, ORIX USA
“Alicia is a wonderful, caring and compassionate person.”
I first met Alicia several years ago. She works as a child care provider at the Day School on evenings, and on weekends and has helped us with watching the children from the adult ESL classes. As of Spring 2020, not only has she helped watch the children of the adult ESL students, she has also helped watch the children of the adults who have participated in our Adult Education Series classes. Our relationship has grown over time, and I have learned that Alicia is a wonderful, caring and compassionate person. Every Saturday, I would go over to leave the children's snacks and I would get the opportunity to chat with her about anything and everything, including her personal life. We became close enough that I even shared about my personal life with her. Eventually, I realized that Alicia and her family would greatly benefit from participating in our food distribution program. I approached her with the idea and she decided to sign up. During the summer months, when the Adult ESL classes are on summer break, she comes to help at every food distribution. She has helped with every aspect- from helping to pack the food, to helping organize with the clothing give-aways and even to helping with collecting signatures. She has become an essential part of my core group of volunteers. It is very evident in everything that she does that God is definitely working through her to help everyone around her.
Because of the current situation that we are all living in, Alicia likes to stay at home and spend time with her grand children rather than be out and participating in anything that is unhealthy or not helpful. Her grand children are a wonderful distraction. She said that seeing everything that is happening has made her want to help everyone in any way that she can. What she likes about volunteering with us is how we do not choose to help just one type of person, but rather that we help everyone the same. We treat everyone with respect and we are all friends. Whoever needs help is able to get it. She said this is exactly how she likes to be. That's what she likes best about us and that's why she helps us when she can. She wishes that she can help right now.
If anyone needs help and she finds out, she will try to help them in any way that she can. She knows that lots of people count on her because they know that she's trustworthy and very caring. She makes sure to tell everyone to call her if they need anything. She really loves being a part of The Stewpot family and misses being an active part in everything that we are doing.
By Becky Zamora, Manager of Family Stabilization Programs
Conocí Alicia hace varios años. Ella trabaja como proveedora de cuidado infantil en la escuela que es parte de la Primera Iglesia Presbiteriana de Dallas durante las tardes y los fines de semana y nos ha ayudado a cuidar a los niños de los padres que participan en las clases de inglés (ESL) como segunda idioma. A partir de la primavera de 2020, no solo ha ayudado con el cuidado de los niños de los estudiantes adultos de ESL, sino que también ha ayudado a cuidar a los niños de los adultos que han participado en nuestras clases de la Serie de Educación para Adultos. Nuestra relación ha crecido con el tiempo, y he aprendido que Alicia es una persona maravillosa, cariñosa y compasiva. Todos los sábados, iba a dejar los bocadillos de los niños y tenía la oportunidad de conversar con ella sobre cualquier cosa, incluida su vida personal. Nos hicimos tan cercanos que incluso compartí sobre mi vida personal con ella. Finalmente, me di cuenta de que Alicia y su familia se beneficiarían enormemente de participar en nuestro programa de distribución de alimentos. Le propuse la idea y ella decidió inscribirse. Durante los meses de verano, cuando las clases de ESL están en vacaciones de verano, ella viene a ayudar en cada distribución de alimentos. Ella ha ayudado en todos los aspectos, desde ayudar a empacar la comida, ayudar a organizar el armario de ropa e incluso ayudar a recolectar firmas. Ella se ha convertido en una parte esencial de mi grupo central de voluntarios. Es muy evidente en todo lo que hace que Dios definitivamente está trabajando a través de ella para ayudar a todos los que la rodean.
Debido a la situación actual en la que todos vivimos, a Alicia le gusta quedarse en casa y pasar tiempo con sus nietos en lugar de estar afuera y participar en cualquier cosa que no sea saludable o que no sea útil. Sus nietos son una distracción maravillosa. Ella dijo que ver todo lo que está sucediendo la ha hecho querer ayudar a todos le cualquier manera que pueda. Lo que le gusta de ser voluntaria con nosotros es que no elegimos ayudar a un solo tipo de persona, sino que ayudamos a todos por igual. Tratamos a todos con respeto y todos somos amigos. Quien necesita ayuda puede obtenerla. Ella dijo que así es exactamente como le gusta ser. Eso es lo que más le gusta de nosotros y por eso nos ayuda cuando puede. Ella desea poder ayudar en este momento.
Si alguien necesita ayuda y ella se entera, intentará ayudarlo de cualquier manera que pueda. Ella sabe que muchas personas cuentan con ella porque saben que es confiable y muy cariñosa. Ella se asegura de decirles a todos que la llamen si necesitan algo. Ella realmente ama ser parte de la familia The Stewpot y extraña ser parte de todo lo que estamos haciendo.
Becky Zamora, Manager of Family Stabilization Programs
BY KRISTIN MERRON | June 25, 2020Through holidays, weekends, and during a global pandemic, the Meal Services team at The Stewpot is always working to provide for our friends in need, even when the rest of the world seems to have closed its doors.
For many, this week acknowledged the milestone that it’s now been over 100 days of “quarantining,” sheltering in place, working from home, or some combination of the aforementioned. Even though restrictions have gradually started to lift, we are still faced with the blinding reality that we are all currently living through a global pandemic that doesn’t discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, education, or socioeconomic background. In the same vein, homelessness has proven that it knows no bounds: just as The Stewpot was founded in 1975 to address the needs of those who found themselves living on the streets, today it is still meeting and serving folks who seek assistance and relief from their circumstances.
When Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins issued the Stay Home Stay Safe order back on March 22, 2020, thousands of businesses and service providers closed their doors. As an essential service provider to this community – providing food, shelter, and social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals –Stewpot Meal Services continued to dish out daily meals at The Second Chance Café at The Bridge to those who had nowhere else to turn.
Now, three months later, The Stewpot is proud to acknowledge that, despite the many curve balls they have faced over the course of this pandemic, meal service has held strong, uninterrupted, as a steadfast and reliable offering that folks can count on, even in the direst situations.
Meal Services is the foundational program of The Stewpot. Continuing meal service was never a question of “if,” but instead of “how?” With the safety of clients and staff top of mind, The Stewpot had to make some quick adjustments in order to continue safely serving and providing meals for folks who –without The Stewpot –might go without food. Brenda Snitzer, Executive Director of The Stewpot described the situation in a letter to Stewpot supporters in early March, “the virus is a constant threat to our staff as well as those we serve. With this in mind, we have taken steps to prioritize essential life-saving services at this point, while being mindful of the health and safety of all involved.”
The first change implemented was the suspension of volunteer services due to public health and safety concerns. Stewpot meal services rely heavily on volunteers, with a typical meal requiring an average of 15 volunteers for successful service- totaling roughly 16,000 volunteer slots annually. Without volunteers, The Stewpot faced a huge loss in manpower, which meant the dedicated Meal Services team had to step up to fill multiple roles. This required Stewpot staffers to increase the number of service hours in order to serve the same or an increased number of folks with fewer hands. “With a reduced workforce, we are being forced to be increasingly efficient and creative, but I continue to be amazed by those who are stepping up to the plate daily to care for our most vulnerable,” says Brenda Snitzer “We deeply miss our loyal and faithful volunteers!” While in-person volunteering opportunities remain suspended until further notice, The Stewpot has developed some creative ways for supporters to volunteer virtually. Interested parties can view social-distance-friendly options for engaging with The Stewpot here.
Other immediate adjustments to dining service at The Stewpot Second Chance Café included switching from standard dishes to disposable single-use plates, cups, utensils, and plastic wrap, while reducing the number of guests in the dining room at one time, and suspending at-table water service. Making the necessary switch to all disposable single-use paper products in the dining hall has resulted in one of the largest cost-increases influencing the meal service budget. As the need for these items grows, The Stewpot welcomes continued contributions to support meal services efforts.
Incredibly, without a single gap in service, the dedicated Meal Services team at The Stewpot has continued to serve thousands of people hot, nutritious meals 3 times per day, 7 days per week at the Second Chance Café, helping those experiencing homelessness to stay healthy and strong. Each month during the 2020 coronavirus emergency, The Stewpot meal service at The Bridge has provided approximately 15,000 meals.
Additionally, a combined and organized effort between The Stewpot’s Meal Services, Food Recovery, and Family Stabilization Programs is helping to provide much-needed food items and budget relief to up to 1,200 households experiencing food insecurity each month. Prior to the COVID-19 emergency, The Stewpot’s monthly food distributions would provide a week's worth of groceries to approximately 100 families whose children participate in Stewpot Children and Youth Program. In response to growing community need, The Stewpot has increased these distributions to three times per month, and they now include dedicated slots for any Dallas household seeking support. Along with fresh produce and pantry staples, families are now receiving five family-size pre-made heat-and-serve meals –prepared by Stewpot Meal Services –so that they can spend less time concerned about putting food on the table, and more time gathering around it. Surplus goods captured by The Stewpot Food Recovery team have helped make the additional food distributions for these families possible. Stewpot staff have also stepped in to fill in the gaps for the average 45 volunteers that it takes to help run the Family Stabilization Program’s monthly grocery distribution.
From the end of March through the end of April, in cooperation with the City and the Dallas Public Library, The Stewpot Meal Service team and the librarians were providing food daily to an average of 150 individuals staying outside the downtown library, with help from partners like Highland Park United Methodist Church. In late April, the City of Dallas’ Office of Homeless Solutions began providing day resources at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center Shelter, enabling overnight guests to remain at the convention center all day. As part of this effort, individuals staying outside the library were relocated from the plaza of the library to the convention center. Since the transition, The Stewpot Meal Services team has taken on the responsibility of coordinating lunch service 7 days per week to support the daily residents who are utilizing the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center coronavirus temporary relief shelter. This includes working with collaborative partners to supply, pack and transport sack meals or hot lunches and water bottles to the convention center every day. From April through the end of June, The Stewpot’s combined distribution of meals at the library, convention center, from Chef prepared donated meals and Preston Hollow Catering, and to partner organization Family Gateway amounts to over 14,000 additional meals through these efforts.
Now even with many restaurants re-opening, The Stewpot continues to be blessed by area businesses and restaurants who are closing doors, or choosing to think of others and donating their goods to assist with ongoing meal service efforts as folks continue to be financially impacted as a result of the virus. “This has been hard, it’s been really hard, but it’s also been really, really good!” says Rob Guild, Manager of Food Recovery at The Stewpot. “It’s almost too easy to look at people who are working from home and wish I was doing that, but at the same time I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m thankful that, with as crazy as everything has been within the past couple of months, I’m able to be on the front lines and see people say ‘Thank You, The Stewpot has helped me.’ When someone walks up to us and says ‘I’m hungry, can you please help?’ It’s such a great feeling to be able to say ‘Yes!’ It feels good to do good.”
In January, The Stewpot Food Recovery team captured roughly 30,000 pounds of donated food. By March, monthly numbers had increased to over 56,000 pounds, and by the end of April that number had grown to over 77,000 pounds per month. It continues to climb. “Distribution centers started calling us because restaurants weren’t buying anything, so we hit a peak in food recovery. The surge has forced us to reassess what we’ve got and what we’re doing with it, so that we throw away as little as possible. If there’s one thing we see a lot of right now, it’s people who need help. So our waste is probably the lowest it’s been, because there are people we can call who are happy to accept the food,” remarks Guild.
Since May 19th, The Stewpot of First Presbyterian Church of Dallas has been a participating faith leader in the Mayor's Milk Initiative –a partnership with Borden Dairy, Dallas ISD, and local faith leaders –to help those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each week, 634 gallons of free milk are dispensed to The Stewpot, benefitting clients of Stewpot Meal Services as well as children and families who are recipients of The Stewpot’s weekly food distributions. “The excess milk has caused us to branch out and find new partners who can benefit from the donated gallons. We’ve even gone out to apartment complexes to hand out the milk. These distributions are helping to bring more awareness to our programs and the folks in the community who need us,” says Guild.
“We’ve been able to become a hub. When we bring in too much food, we can call others and continue the chain of giving back. We’ve been giving more than we’ve been giving in the past, it’s truly a blessing!
— Rob Guild, Manager of Food Recovery at The Stewpot
Thanks to continued donations, excess food has been distributed to partner organizations including Union Gospel Mission, Our Calling, Oak Lawn United Methodist Church, the Dallas Public Library, Family Gateway, Mission Oak Cliff, CitySquare, For the Nations, and Inspired Vision Compassion Center who are all helping to feed those who are hungry. Discussing all the new ways in which The Stewpot is collaborating with others Guild says, “We’ve been able to become a hub. When we bring in too much food, we can call others and continue the chain of giving back. We’ve been giving more than we’ve been giving in the past, it’s truly a blessing!”
With coronavirus shutdowns causing a surge in recovered and donated food, The Stewpot has been utilizing fridge and freezer space at First Presbyterian Church of Dallas while the building remains closed for in-person church services. “On a busy day we can average 4-5 pick-ups. To increase our storage capacity, we’ve had to reinvent how we use our resources. This has caused a lot of people to think outside the box,” says Guild.
Early in the crisis, longtime Stewpot supporters Ben E. Keith stepped in to offer the loan of an 18-wheeler cold storage food trailer for several weeks, while next door neighbor Oncor Electric, in turn, offered the use of their truck dock as a place it could be parked. This has greatly expanded The Stewpot’s onsite capacity for cold food storage while allowing the ability to continue helping other partner agencies with food assistance. Thanks to funding provided by generous donors, The Stewpot was recently able to purchase a forklift, which arrived the first week in May. This unit assists with much of the manual labor required to pick up and haul donated food and has lovingly earned the nickname “The Meal Services Bat-Mobile.”
With more Texas businesses now able to reopen, has food recovery slowed down at all? Guild says “No.” “There’s still less business happening than before, and with reduced traffic, many donors are able to drop off, which saves us time, travel, and logistical expenses normally associated with donation pick-ups.”
So what does the future hold for The Stewpot’s meal service and food recovery efforts? “We’re growing so we’re gonna need more space, cooler and freezer. Currently we have parking spaces in the garage stacked with food crates because we have nowhere else to store them. A storage partner or donation to support additional space would be a huge blessing! With in-person volunteering on-hold for now, our three-man team is boots on the ground. We’ve got a really great team of people who are still here, but we are running hard!” exclaims Guild.
Food donations continue to make a huge difference to clients of The Stewpot while helping to avoid unnecessary waste. If you or someone you know has food to donate The Stewpot Food Recovery team can be reached at (469) 236-0488 or you may contact Rob Guild, Manager of Food Recovery at robg@thestewpot.org
BY KRISTIN MERRON | June 18, 2020 Since efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus began triggering shutdowns of public spaces and programs across the city in early March, The Stewpot has had to flex its adaptive muscles to roll with the changes. Children who normally participated in The Stewpot’s Wednesday evening Junior Crew and Venturing Crew and Saturday Kids’ Club programming were suddenly made to stay home, and the parents we serve through these programs were understandably concerned about how these changes would affect their families.
Not wanting to cease programming altogether, the Stewpot staff was challenged in early March to adapt lesson plans and provide families with the proper resources in order to engage with online learning. Collaborating with DISD, The Stewpot was able to find accessible hotspots and technology for those who weren’t equipped with the proper tools to access the web and educational portals. Since digital learning was only being implemented for grades 3 and up, all students received care packages of school supplies and learning materials to complete hands-on assignments at home, along with guidance and support for parents. Some parent programming has been temporarily halted but beginning July 6-30th a fun ZUMBA class will be offered mornings via Zoom and The Stewpot is currently working with NTARUPT to prepare summer afternoon programs aimed at guiding parents on effective communication skills that can build parent-adolescent relationships.
From March through mid-June, Venturing Crew (youth in grades 9-12) continued to meet via Zoom to ensure educational and engagement activities could carry on through the end of the unconventional school year. Modified programming was introduced, including a partnership class hosted by Our Friends Place through which students learned about and discussed grief and coping strategies when faced with the loss of the typical high school senior experience.
In lieu of The Stewpot’s annual graduation celebrations, Children and Youth staff organized a drive-by parade to celebrate the ten class of 2020 graduating seniors. On the morning of June 6th, a caravan of cars made its way to the residences of all ten graduates from Stewpot programs. The students were completely surprised as staff paraded and celebrated with them their first of many achievements. Cars filled with Stewpot staff members delivered “Congratulations,” dropped off baskets of goodies including $20 bills for the 2020 grads, and themed hand-crafted cookies from Bella Bouquet. Youth Coordinator Rafael Dominguez Jr. donated his photography services to capture images of the graduates during the celebrations. Eight NEW scholarships were also given out, adding to the 45 young people - many the first in their family to attend college - currently receiving Stewpot scholarships.
Here are a few words of thanks The Stewpot team received from students and their families following the parade:
"THANK YOU! ¡Muchas Gracias!" –Angel and Alex R. and their mother Margarita
"Thank you guys for everything, please let the rest of the staff know that I appreciate you guys; thank you!" –Sheila E.
"I just want to say thank you for what y'all did" –Michell F.
"Thank you Alma, very unexpected. Thank everyone for me!" –Valerie Z.
"Mil gracias a todos por la visita del sábado, nos agararron completamente por sorpresa. Mil bendiciones" [Translation: Many thanks for the visit on Saturday. You caught us by surprise! Many blessings.] –Sra. Zamarripa
Summertime is typically jam packed with Children and Youth activities - from field trips, to specialty classes, outdoor outings, to summer games and fun with friends. Over the years, The Stewpot Children and Youth summer programs have become a long-standing crowd favorite with the children and families we serve. It goes without saying that this year, summer programming is looking drastically different. Instead of traditional in-person gatherings, kiddos will be participating in two separate two-week long digital summer camps in July. One catered to kids (grades 3rd-7th), and the other two weeks designated for 8th-12th graders. Utilizing previously established relationships from a variety of The Stewpot’s summer partners including Noggin Educational Foundation, NTARUPT, and Our Friends Place; the older students will have the opportunity to participate in virtually-led classes 5 hours per day, 4 days per week. For younger students (2nd grade and below), hands on packets are being prepared and “Camp in a Box” activities are being provided for all elementary-aged students (1st-5th grades). The curriculum and boxes are screen-free, centered on Scripture, and were developed by Ferncliff Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center of Little Rock in partnership with Camp Gilmont who will help pack and ship them.
Kids’ Club summer participants will also have the option of participating in First Presbyterian Church of Dallas’ Virtual Bible Study “Compassion Camp” taking place mornings the week of June 22-26. Children and families will experience a 30-minute age-appropriate small group Zoom session, music, crafts, games, and bible stories shared by FPC Dallas leaders. While major efforts are being made to keep kids learning and engaged throughout summer, The Stewpot recognizes the challenge that comes with child care not being provided, which is traditionally built-in to Stewpot summer programming and offered on-site at the FPC campus. “For many of the children we work with, we help them keep their English skills up over the summer. I can’t imagine them losing that completely, we are trying to make it work with what we have available, providing interaction, education, and a language component, but it’s never the same,” says Suzanne Erickson, Director of Educational and Workforce Programs at The Stewpot. Due to the high level of unpredictability involving the pandemic, plans for fall programming are extremely tentative right now.
“I think the hardest part for everyone in all of this is not having the interactions we’re accustomed to. Fridays at Food Distribution, seeing people’s faces in person, knowing the kids are missing out on the fun events and socialization they would normally have, it’s difficult. Virtual is great for maintaining engagement but it can be complicated, and nothing can replace those in-person connections.
— Suzanne Erickson, Director of Educational and Workforce Programs at The Stewpot
While educational programming for children and youth continues to take shape for the fall, the Family Stabilization program seems to have found its stride. Prior to the COVID-19 emergency, The Stewpot’s monthly food distributions would provide a week's worth of groceries to approximately 100 families whose children participate in Stewpot Children and Youth programs. In response to community need, these distributions have increased to three times per month and now include dedicated slots for any Dallas household in need. In addition to fresh produce and pantry staples, families are now receiving five family-size pre-made heat-and-serve meals so that they can spend less time concerned about putting food on the table, and more time gathering around it. By holding these distributions and providing additional ready meals to community partners to be shared via their networks, the program aims to provide greater food security and budget relief to up to 1,200 households per month.
“We’re seeing the numbers of families in need growing each week. Some are having a hard time because they’ve lost their jobs and a steady source of income. We’ve been working with Client Services to supply basic essentials and assist in helping to pay rent and utility bills for families so that they can remain housed,” says Erickson. “I think the hardest part for everyone in all of this is not having the interactions we’re accustomed to. Fridays at Food Distribution, seeing people’s faces in person, knowing the kids are missing out on the fun events and socialization they would normally have, it’s difficult. Virtual is great for maintaining engagement but it can be complicated, and nothing can replace those in-person connections.”
Traditionally folks learned about The Stewpot’s food distribution through referrals or word of mouth but recently The Stewpot has launched Eventbrite pages and Facebook events to create more awareness about the weekly food offerings. If you are experiencing food insecurity during this time, you can learn more about the next Stewpot food distribution and sign-up to receive assistance here: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/the-stewpot-of-first-presbyterian-church-of-dallas-15310408867
BY KRISTIN MERRON | June 11, 2020Another Stewpot program that has been severely impacted by social distancing guidelines is The Stewpot’s in-house newspaper STREETZine. STREETZine provides a financial opportunity for clients of The Stewpot to become vendors of the paper and sell the monthly issues for a profit.
“So far, most have asked for help with groceries and we’ve been able to add them to our food distribution list. It’s been a really good thing for a lot of our clients that are housed, and I hope it’s something we can continue even when things open back up because it helps many budget-wise.
— Suzanne Erickson, Director of Educational & Workforce Programs at The Stewpot
With in-person distribution of the paper temporarily suspended, current vendors have been unable to earn funds from transactions, resulting in a loss of income. “We’ve been making efforts to keep in contact with a number of vendors, checking in weekly or bi-weekly, asking if they need help with anything,” says Suzanne Erickson, Director of Educational & Workforce Programs at The Stewpot. “So far, most have asked for help with groceries and we’ve been able to add them to our food distribution list. It’s been a really good thing for a lot of our clients that are housed, and I hope it’s something we can continue even when things open back up because it helps many budget-wise.”
“We currently have about fifteen vendors on our books, but I’ve only been able to reach about half of them. Right now, it’s very difficult to locate clients who are homeless and have no way of being contacted through a personal phone or email address. If we don’t know where they are and they don’t have a phone number, there’s not a whole lot we can do.”
“Many of our vendors take a lot of pride in the personal responsibility that comes with selling the paper and they don’t like taking handouts. Some of our recent conversations just include encouraging them to accept the help they are able to receive right now, which means taking food, even if they are reluctant to do so.
— Suzanne Erickson, Director of Educational & Workforce Programs at The Stewpot
As for ways vendors are currently coping with the loss of income from street paper sales, Erickson says, “A few of our vendors are on disability, so they are still receiving help, just not able to do a whole lot extra. Many of our vendors take a lot of pride in the personal responsibility that comes with selling the paper and they don’t like taking handouts. Some of our recent conversations just include encouraging them to accept the help they are able to receive right now, which means taking food, even if they are reluctant to do so.”
At the end of March, a newly revamped issue of the April/May edition of STREETZine was released online (See it here). The next two digital editions will drop on June 15 and July 15. “We hope by July we can also go back to selling in person, but it’s a wait-and-see kind of thing,” explains Erickson. With current issues of the paper available online, The Stewpot continues to accept donations to support the vendors, as well as the production of future issues of the paper. “Currently we’ve been utilizing online donations to the paper to purchase Walmart gift cards which are then being supplied to our vendors to help supplement income and aid with monthly expenses,” she says.
Virtual meetings continue to take place regarding the content of future editions of the paper. “Our advisory board is meeting monthly over Zoom to discuss strategies for the paper. We’re working about two editions out at this point, and upcoming editions will include more coronavirus content with stories about how coronavirus has impacted the homeless population, as well as info about how The Stewpot has been adjusting,” says Erickson.
Recently, Erickson has taken on a new endeavor for the paper, joining virtual meetings every three weeks with a coalition of street paper organizations arranged by the International Network of Street Newspapers. “This has been very insightful and helps us to take a look at what other street papers are doing around the nation. Talking about different ways sales might be able to happen using social distancing techniques –like using a bucket to collect donations instead of hand-to-hand exchanges. We’ve also had discussions about providing safety supplies to vendors (i.e. masks and gloves). It’s a group reimagining the way street newspapers are done. Reimagining how things will have to change in order to be able to sell safely while keeping our vendors safe.”
Until vendors are able to return to their posts and sell papers, the best way folks can continue to support the STREETZine program is through online donations. Erickson says those interested in writing for the paper or joining the advisory board are also welcome to reach out to her directly at suzannee@thestewpot.org.
“I have vendors who ask me essentially every week ‘when are we going to get back to selling?’ Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer for that right now, but I know our vendors are very eager to get back out there,” says Erickson.
As for other Stewpot workforce and enrichment programs, Erickson says a few of our partnerships persist but appear a little different. “We’re maintaining our relationship with the CARDboard Project to assist with job-seeking and resume help but instead of working on-site at the Community Ministries building, I’ve referred a few Stewpot clients to their virtual services.” Stewpot Garden Club meetings, which typically take place in the Encore Park Community Garden, have been suspended for now, but The Stewpot’s resident Horticultural Therapist Sandra Zelley continues to pop by to maintain the garden so that it will be ready for when garden club members can safely return and gather there.
BY KRISTIN MERRON | May 28, 2020 While the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact in-person gatherings and many events remain suspended in and around Dallas, I took some time to touch base with the folks in charge of The Stewpot’s Workforce and Enrichment Programs to see how services have had to be adapted in the face of COVID-19. In part one of this two part series, I spoke with Betty Heckman, Stewpot Art Program Director to discuss the current state of The Stewpot Art Program.
Up until early March, The Stewpot Art Program routinely met five days per week on-site at the art studios located within The Stewpot Community Ministries building. Artists participating in the program were able to come in for several hours each day, utilize a variety of art supplies, and create works for display in the gallery that they could later sell as a way to earn supplemental income.
Today the studios remain empty while the artwork hangs on the walls of The Stewpot gallery, begging to be viewed by volunteers and guests who are currently prohibited from entering the building due to public health and safety concerns.
The timing for the closure has been unfortunate because it happened to coincide with the completion of a slew of major renovations to the artists’ studios, which resulted in a larger studio space with more natural light, updated appliances, and improved work and gallery space for the artists. “This all happened about the time our new studio was reopening so our artists haven’t fully been able to appreciate the new studio space; it’s just begging for artists,” says Betty Heckman, Stewpot Art Program Director.
“This all happened about the time our new studio was reopening so our artists haven’t fully been able to appreciate the new studio space; it’s just begging for artists
— Betty Heckman, Stewpot Art Program Director
“I get my energy from other people and I miss the artists, I miss the daily interactions,” says Heckman. Despite not being able to congregate in person, The Stewpot Art Program has been doing a number of things to try to maintain contact with the artists. “We have about 25 artists on our books and I’ve been able to be in contact with about 14 of them in one fashion or another. Some of our dedicated artists have no way to be contacted [no email or phone] so that’s been a frustration because I worry about them,” explains Heckman.
“I’m happy to report that many of our artists, despite the circumstances, are doing very well.” Thanks to The Stewpot’s recent initiatives to increase food distribution capacity, many of the artists have benefitted as recipients of multiple grocery and prepared food deliveries, made possible by The Stewpot’s Food Recovery and Family Stabilization Programs. “Sometimes they’ve even had enough to share with neighbors, which I think is very sweet,” says Heckman who has also taken it upon herself to make a few personal deliveries. “Some have requested and received art supplies so they’re able to work where they are. It’s nice to be able to reconnect face-to-face even if that means from behind a mask, and just for a minute.”
As many artists continue to shelter in place, their new works remain in their hands and, therefore, no new work has been entering The Stewpot gallery. “I’m not sure how this situation may or may not affect the type of work our artists are producing right now, but it will be interesting to see what kind of pieces have been created when the artists return,” says Heckman.
In the meantime, more focus has been put on digital ways to get the word out about the art program. A recent planned show at the Dallas Museum of Art, featuring Stewpot created works, was moved to an online platform and The Stewpot has created a new Instagram page @Stewpotdallasart, which is currently displaying gallery works that profile different artists each week. With future in-person events and sales still postponed, Heckman is also starting to investigate digital sales opportunities for the artists.
“One of the artists has started a new job with Amazon and has been able to move out of Austin Street Center. I’ll be delivering some congratulatory art supplies to her apartment.
— Betty Heckman, Stewpot Art Program Director
While the physical separation has been difficult, Heckman is encouraged by the connections that have been strengthened as a result of the crisis. “One of the artists has been able to reconnect with a long-lost family member –out of state –and he continues to produce work and send me pictures. I also had a brother of one of our artists’ reach out to me who hasn’t had contact with his sibling in over 10 years. He wrote a letter and has asked me to deliver it to the intended recipient when we reopen. I think this crisis has ignited a desire for some to strengthen familial bonds and make amends.” With a surge in the need for essential workers, there has also been opportunity for growth, “One of the artists has started a new job with Amazon and has been able to move out of Austin Street Center. I’ll be delivering some congratulatory art supplies to her apartment,” reports Heckman.
Conversations about when and how the studio can safely reopen remain ongoing. “Currently we don’t have any concrete plans but my vision includes having a schedule, with smaller groups coming on designated days, where artists will have opportunities to visit the studio during their allotted time. We might also consider reopening the gallery by appointment only in the future. That is my hope, but there’s a lot that will need to be considered before a firm plan is implemented,” explains Heckman.
“I’m most grateful that The Stewpot is putting forward the effort to continue to care for the artists even when they’re not here [physically]. That means the world to them and they have conveyed that to me every time they receive a grocery delivery or a phone call from our staff.
— Betty Heckman, Stewpot Art Program Director
“I’m most grateful that The Stewpot is putting forward the effort to continue to care for the artists even when they’re not here [physically]. That means the world to them and they have conveyed that to me every time they receive a grocery delivery or a phone call from our staff.”
While in-person volunteering opportunities for the art program remain suspended, Heckman says the best way to support the program participants right now is to make an online donation. “Currently when you hit the ‘Donate Now’ button, you are feeding an artist,” she explains.
“The studios are ready for the artists. We need art in the world because it brings joy and I really look forward to the day that we can all gather and create again.”
BY KRISTIN MERRON | May 22, 2020While The Stewpot was founded on Meal Services back in 1975, in more recent years, Stewpot Client Services has grown to become a primary function of The Stewpot, comprising much of the work our clients have come to depend on. ID services are vital to the homeless population because without valid identification it becomes practically impossible to apply for a job, apply for housing, receive SNAP food assistance, and much more. Since the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) closed its offices on March 19, 2020 in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the team in Stewpot Client Services has had to deal with some major hurdles.
“DPS being closed has severely impacted our ability to offer ID services in the usual way
— Laura Westerlage, Director of Client Services
“DPS being closed has severely impacted our ability to offer ID services in the usual way,” says Laura Westerlage, Director of Client Services at The Stewpot. “Many clients come to us with no form of identification whatsoever, and typically the first step is to send them to Parkland Hospital in order to obtain a certified medical record which can then be taken to the Social Security office. With COVID-19, sending clients to the hospital is currently not the safest option, so we get stuck at the very first step,” she explains.
While the DPS and Social Security office continue to offer online renewals and replacements for IDs, only a small portion of the clients The Stewpot serves fit those requirements. “We are doing whatever we can to work with clients but some limitations are leaving our folks as sitting ducks for the time being. There are just certain things we cannot do without full access to these vital document offices.”
“As specialists in ID and birth certificate services, we’ve been receiving a lot of calls from partner agencies asking us how to get the ID and/or birth certificate process started for folks to help them move towards housing more quickly.
— Laura Westerlage, Director of Client Services
While the situation is frustrating for all involved, the pandemic has sparked a surge in The Stewpot’s interactions with a number of partner agencies. “As specialists in ID and birth certificate services, we’ve been receiving a lot of calls from partner agencies asking us how to get the ID and/or birth certificate process started for folks to help them move towards housing more quickly.” While many folks are locked down in shelters, caseworkers from a number of different agencies have begun making phone appointments with The Stewpot in order to work with folks remotely who can’t come to meet for a physical appointment at this time. “We’ve been leveraging our relationships over the phone, typically holding conversations with 8-10 clients per day. Shelters that don’t offer ID or birth certificate services need our help, so we’re offering these agencies an opportunity to make a phone appointment with their caseworkers and a client, where a Stewpot caseworker can walk them through the process. For the time being, almost all of our ID services are happening through shelter referrals.”
Stewpot Client Services continues to operate on a limited schedule providing access to the Community Ministries building located on the corner of Park Avenue and Young Street on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays for select hours so clients can access their mail. “If a returning client who was working with a caseworker prior to the COVID-19 changes comes in with questions about their ID or birth certificate status, we can assist them in answering any questions they have, offering guidance and providing updates on the status of their documents. We also continue to issue Stewpot IDs for those who need a simple form of photo identification. Sometimes we have to tell them, ‘we can start the process but we can only go so far for now,’” explains Westerlage.
The Stewpot’s Representative Payee Program is one program that has been able to continue with minimal changes. The Manager of Representative Payee Services Courtney Ray-Riddle, who oversees the program, continues to maintain connections with clients and ensure uninterrupted distribution of benefits and management of budgets. Minor shifts include the adjustment of appointment times to limit in-person contact and utilizing phone appointments and mail when it makes sense.
An area that has seen growth recently is The Stewpot’s counseling program. “We’ve shifted to remote counseling and the program is busier than ever,” says Mishaal Riaz, M.A., LPC-Intern, and Manager of Counseling Services at The Stewpot. Recent expansion includes widening outreach to assist not just clients of The Stewpot, but also those who have no insurance or access to low cost counseling, by providing free sessions through a secure telehealth platform. The Stewpot counseling program has also developed a partnership with CitySquare to assist victims of domestic violence and provide virtual group therapy sessions, which has led to Stewpot counselors carrying a full caseload.
The Stewpot maintains in providing mail pick up weekly on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. “We have a lot of mail right now that requires sorting and storage because folks are sheltering in place and are not able to come pick up their mail. We are currently holding mail for folks but are running out of space so it has been a huge help to coordinate with shelters –who have provided a list of names of clients asking about their mail –so we can pull it and have it delivered to the shelter,” says Westerlage. This has also required a change to The Stewpot’s package policy. Due to limited storage, The Stewpot can no longer accept client packages unless they are required medical prescriptions. During operating hours, The Stewpot continues to offer access to clean restrooms in a safe environment with police officers present. Other service modifications have been implemented to encourage the practice of social-distancing with stickers placed on the floors, chairs spaced out at least 6 feet from one another, and access to the day room limited to 20 occupants or less at a time. While hygiene distribution is temporarily suspended, The Stewpot has packaged and delivered hygiene packs to folks who are currently staying at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson temporary relief shelter at the convention center.
“I’ve experienced more tears from clients in the past couple of months than I have here ever at The Stewpot.
— Laura Westerlage, Director of Client Services
With aid limited in certain sectors like ID/birth certificate services, The Stewpot has been able to redeploy staff to launch new initiatives in direct response to the present emergency. Funds are currently being designated to offer families up to three months of rental and utility assistance so that they can continue to stay housed, with a goal of helping 50 families to avoid falling into homelessness in 2020. “I’m excited to be able to offer this type of assistance now, which has been requested for so long,” says Westerlage. “We’re currently assisting about 20 households, including a portion from our Family Stabilization program as well as referrals from outside agencies. We communicate with them on a regular basis and assist in paying bills over the phone or online using a credit card. Working one-to-one with these families has allowed us to assist in other ways as well, like pulling clothing and other necessity items from our clothing closet while it remains closed to the public at this time.” Westerlage went on to say she feels privileged to be of service to those “directly affected by COVID-19. I’ve met families who have a partner that lost job, have had work hours reduced, and those who are currently experiencing childcare issues, with no alternative so they have to stay home with kids. Some are undocumented so they don’t have access to certain benefits and they’re understandably scared to ask for assistance. These are folks who – if they don’t pay the bills –they fall into homelessness. I’ve experienced more tears from clients in the past couple of months than I have here ever at The Stewpot.”
“We’re learning about ways to collaborate more with partners to make our processes more efficient and we’re now looking at how The Stewpot can provide access to housing through the Continuum of Care
— Laura Westerlage, Director of Client Services
When asked about ways The Stewpot is continuing to adapt in the wake of COVID-19, Laura replied, “What this has done is helped people across The Stewpot see what we’re doing that has the most impact versus what’s the biggest need. We’re learning about ways to collaborate more with partners to make our processes more efficient and we’re now looking at how The Stewpot can provide access to housing through the Continuum of Care, assisting clients in filling out a lengthy questionnaire that will allow them to get on the housing priority list.”
While the Parkland clinics at The Stewpot remain closed for the time being, The Stewpot continues to receive requests from clients seeking medical and dental services. The Stewpot remains in constant communication with its Parkland partners in regards to this rapidly changing situation while the health and safety of Stewpot clients and staff remain of paramount importance. Once new safety protocols are established, and a time is identified to safely do so, clients will be notified of openings and service offerings as the situation evolves.
“Everyone is slowly getting back into the groove of things. Our spirits are better than they were a month ago,” says Westerlage, “We’re blessed to have an amazing team who continues to put in the time and hard work and roll with the changes. I’m inspired by the flexibility The Stewpot and First Presbyterian Church of Dallas have shown in the face of sweeping irregularity.”
BY MISHAAL RIAZ | March 31, 2020My name is Mishaal Riaz, M.A., LPC-Intern. I am the Manager of Counseling Services at The Stewpot, under the supervision of Keri Riggs, M.A, LPC-S. I provide therapy for individuals who are at risk or experiencing homelessness, as well as psychoeducation to the community.
Currently, we are living in an anxious time. For many, what’s going on around us can trigger negative thoughts and feelings. I want to give you some tools to help manage your health during the coronavirus quarantine.
While things are constantly changing around us day by day, it is normal to feel out of control. What we can have control over however, are our thoughts. When we have fear-based thoughts on loop in our minds, we will naturally feel anxious. Here is a great method I use to re-frame fear-based thoughts:
Step 1: Identify the fear-based thought. For example: I’m scared about my kids catching the coronavirus and I can’t sleep because of it.
Step 2: Be gentle with yourself as you recognize the thought. For example: Of course I am scared about this. This is a normal fear.
Step 3: Replace this thought with a positive thought that is true for you. For example: We are healthy right now, and we are taking the right precautions.
This process will take some practice, but it is an effective way to pull yourself out of fear-based thinking.
While it may be tempting to stay in your pajamas and binge watch TV all day, I encourage you to follow a similar schedule that you did prior to the quarantine. Wake up at the same time, get ready for the day, have tasks to complete for the day, and go to bed at the same time. It is tempting to have late nights and late mornings, but this will only disrupt the schedule that has kept you mentally and physically healthy.
What’s more, having a disrupted schedule will likely cause changes in the time you take medication, or possibly cause you to forget taking your medication altogether. This will have a negative effect on your mood, so committing to having a routine with your medication during this time is essential. Set an alarm on your phone if you need to!
During times of intense stress, our bodies go into fight or flight mode. There are simple things you can do to get your body out of fight or flight mode and into a more relaxed place. Here are some important ways to care for your body:
Diet: Rather than snacking all day, make sure to eat complete meals throughout the day.
Exercise: Exercise can be a great tool to combat anxiety and depression during this time. There are at-home workouts you can find online, or you might consider safely going outside for a walk or run, being sure to maintain a distance of six-feet to any passerby.
Sleep: Good sleep hygiene is necessary for our wellness. Allow yourself to get enough sleep and try sticking to the same bedtime every day. If you are struggling with anxiety before bed, make sure you are not watching the news close to your bedtime. It is normal to scroll through social media before falling asleep, but this will only keep your mind dwelling on the coronavirus. Try reading a book, journaling, or doing some deep breathing instead.
While everything around us seems to be out of control, allow your home to be a controlled, safe, and predictable environment. They say a chaotic home can lead to a chaotic mind, so use this time at home to purge items you don’t need, reorganize, and clean. Following the 1st tool I mentioned, reframe “I am stuck inside” to “I can use this time to focus on my home!”
Feeling isolated for long periods of time is a sure recipe for depression. Here are some tips I recommend to manage isolation during this time:
Schedule video or phone calls with friends and family. Not only will this help you feel more connected, but your presence during a stressful time will be a blessing to others!
Set boundaries with the news. Hearing the coronavirus news throughout the day will perpetuate your anxiety and cause you to feel more isolated. While it is important to stay informed, it is also imperative that you set limits on how often you will watch the news or stay on social media. Allow yourself to be updated, then move on.
Reach out for professional help. During times of high stress, it is common for some people to feel triggered; past grief or trauma may be resurfacing, issues you thought you had resolved may suddenly feel unresolved, and anxiety may feel unmanageable. If you are experiencing any of these things, it may be helpful to talk to someone. The Stewpot is providing video/phone counseling sessions during the quarantine. Information on how to set up a phone consultation is provided below.
6. LEAN INTO SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Our spiritual tools are important now more than ever. They can create an overall sense of peace and calmness that greatly impact those around us. Here are some common spiritual methods for staying anchored:
Prayer and meditation
Slow, deep breathing: Practice breathing in slowly for 4 seconds, hold it for 6 seconds, and slowly exhale for 7 seconds. Repeat this 3-4 times.
Practice gratitude: Shifting our focus to what we have and on what is going right in our lives is crucial for balancing the negativity going on around us. Try writing a few things you are grateful for each day. If you are co-quarantining with a partner or child(ren), try doing this practice with them.
I hope these tools serve you and help you find your power during this time. To schedule a phone consultation with a Stewpot counselor email MishaalR@thestewpot.org.
BY KRISTIN MERRON | February 27, 2020As a friend of The Stewpot, it’s likely you are familiar with Saturday Kids’ Club, part of The Stewpot’s Children and Youth Program offering educational and enrichment programing for low-income children in 1st-5th grade throughout the school year. Kids’ Club participants receive breakfast and lunch, and rotate through a variety of fun and educational activities such as recreation, computers, science, and art.
On one recent occasion, Alma Reyes, Manager of Children and Youth Programs at The Stewpot, had just finished delivering a large of box of Lunchables to the students. After passing out all of the Lunchables, Alma was surprised to discover that the children seemed less interested in the Lunchables and more interested in the large empty box she was now holding. “I asked, ‘Y’all want an empty box?’ and to my surprise, several hands went up,” says Alma.
With only one box and several interested parties, Alma came up with a creative solution to decide which lucky participant could take home the box. The students were all handed slips of paper and were tasked with providing the “best reason” as to why they should “win” the box. The Children and Youth staff members would then deliberate on the submissions and cast their votes for whoever gave the best answer.
With the prized Lunchables box on the line, the students sprang into action, putting on their thinking caps to come up with the most inventive answer. Submissions included the obvious – wanting the box as a toy to play with – through to the more creative – repurposing the box as a shoe rack – and even using the box as a device to scare siblings and cousins with. Ultimately, it was Neil, a first grader, who submitted the winning entry with his loving idea of repurposing the box in order to create a doggy bed for his pup “Ari.”
Neil followed through on his promise to use the box for his good deed, and a very proud Mama sent us this photo as proof of his big heart! Congratulations Neil!
BY KRISTIN MERRON | August 15, 2019On Sunday August 11, 2019, First Presbyterian Church of Dallas and The Stewpot held a special “Scholarship Sunday” service recognizing all current Stewpot scholarship recipients and previous year graduates.
As the former students and graduates were waiting for the 10:50am service to begin, students ranging from freshmen to recent graduates were able to interact with one another and exchange stories about what they are currently doing. Alma Reyes, Manager of Children & Youth Programs at The Stewpot says, “Everyone was nervous and excited to attend.”
As the service opened, Brenda Ewing-Snitzer, Executive Director of The Stewpot said a few words of welcome before introducing Suzanne Erickson, Director of Educational and Workforce Programs. On the Sanctuary stage, Suzanne called out the names of the recent graduates while Alma recognized those who are currently in school (i.e. trade, community college or university). One-by-one each participant was recognized by the FPC congregation.
Later, former student and scholarship recipient turned teacher, Mayra Chavez, shared her personal account on how The Stewpot's Children & Youth programming and receiving a scholarship, has made a difference in her life – she thanked the sponsors for providing her the support to succeed.
A reception followed with drinks and light snacks where the scholars were able to network and mingle with everyone in attendance. Many FPC members shared sentiments of “Congratulations” and kept saying how proud they were of the students and their hard work. It was truly a unique opportunity to meet and hear from current and former students and graduates whose lives have improved thanks to the services provided by The Stewpot's Children & Youth programming.