Stewpot Community Services
Site Address:
1100 W. Capitol St.
Jackson
,
Mississippi
39203
United States
Website:
https://www.stewpot.org/
Volunteer Non US Citizen
N/A
Categories:
Spanish Language Preferences:
Location Details
Description
Stewpot Community Services provides compassionate, no-cost support to people experiencing hunger, poverty, homelessness, and other challenges. Through our many ministries and programs, we provide food, shelter, clothing, mentoring, and a caring community to our neighbors in need. At Stewpot, we believe we are all stronger when we come together and use our gifts to serve others. College interns have the opportunity to work alongside dedicated staff, engage directly with the community, gain meaningful hands-on experience, and see firsthand how compassion, service, and collaboration can create positive change.
Student Role
Applicants considering Stewpot can expect to engage heavily in our core service areas: the community kitchen, food pantry, clothing closet, and, when appropriate, street outreach. Students will rotate between these areas according to a schedule provided by Stewpot, although flexibility is needed based on the needs of the day. In the food pantry, students work directly alongside clients as they select food items, bag their groceries, and, when needed, help load groceries for the client. Students may also check clients in, verify appointments, and direct clients to the appropriate staff member. The clothing closet offers similar opportunities for direct interaction, with students welcoming and checking in clients and working alongside them as they select clothing and other needed items. Students will also help sort, organize, and store clothing donations and accessories. The community kitchen is a communal space where people often socialize and connect with one another. Students greet and welcome lunch clients, hand out lunch plates, beverages, and treat bags when available, and have opportunities to connect with clients in a more informal setting. Students also assist with preparing lunch for more than 120 people each day and may support Stewpot staff in orienting and instructing volunteers who help serve lunch. When appropriate, students may participate in our street outreach program, which is particularly well suited for aspiring medical students. Street outreach gives students an opportunity to meet with individuals experiencing homelessness, build relationships, check on their health and well-being, and connect them with available services and resources. Across all areas, students are expected to engage clients in a welcoming, respectful, and relational way while also helping with the necessary behind-the-scenes work of sorting and organizing donations, cleaning and disinfecting, and maintaining organized service areas. Students may also have opportunities to assist with our summer camp and weekly legal clinic. Summer camp may involve supporting staff with educational or recreational projects, while the legal clinic provides an opportunity to work alongside experienced legal professionals as they provide legal advice and services to the individuals we serve.
Work Schedule
Students will work Monday through Friday, generally from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with a 30-minute lunch. Weekends will generally be free, with occasional weekend service opportunities of no more than three hours to assist with projects in the Community Kitchen and Food Pantry. Throughout the week, students will work in the kitchen, Clothing Closet, and Food Pantry. Street outreach, summer camp, and the legal clinic will occur one to two days a week for approximately half a day, with the exact schedule still to be determined. A schedule will be provided, but some flexibility will be needed based on program needs and opportunities that arise. Students will have evenings and most weekends free.
Orientation
Orientation will begin on the students’ first day at Stewpot at 8:00 a.m. Since many of our services begin at 9:00 a.m., this first hour will allow time to welcome the students, tour our campus, introduce them to our programs and staff, and review the duties, expectations, and practices of the spaces where they will be serving. Orientation at Stewpot will also be an ongoing experience, particularly during the students’ first few weeks. My team and I will work closely alongside the students, providing hands-on training, guidance, and support as they become familiar with our programs and responsibilities. As they gain confidence and a better understanding of our work, we will gradually give them more independence while remaining available to support them throughout their experience.
Housing Information
Each student will be housed in an individual one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment within walking distance of Stewpot Community Services. Each apartment includes a functional kitchen and private living space, allowing students to have their own bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen area. Students will live in a private apartment community near the Stewpot campus rather than in a shared or coed student residence. Students will be expected to follow the rules and community guidelines established by the apartment community, including expectations related to safety, cleanliness, noise, guests, and general conduct. Additional information regarding the apartment community’s specific guidelines and expectations will be provided at a later date as those details are finalized. The housing address is not available at this time. I will provide the address at a later date once the housing arrangements have been finalized.
Background Check
Child Protection/Working with Youth Training
Drivers License
No, a license is not required.
Student Preferences
Students who are flexible, dependable, compassionate, and willing to jump in wherever needed are a great fit for Stewpot. Since our ministries serve people with a variety of backgrounds and needs, it’s important for students to be comfortable working with others, communicating respectfully, and being part of a team. Initiative, patience, independence, and a willingness to learn are also helpful. Depending on the area where they are placed, skills in public speaking, administration, technology, food service, organization, or community outreach may be helpful, as well as an interest in social work, law, ministry, nonprofit management, or human services.