Editor’s note: This story is a part of a series highlighting the needs of area non-profits this holiday season.

NATCHEZ — Though he’ll take your money and your food, the thing Stewpot Director Louis Gunning wants most for Christmas this year doesn’t have a price tag.

Gunning — and the 300 people who eat Stewpot meals daily — need your time. But they only want a little bit of it.

“We are low on volunteers to deliver meals,” Gunning said.

Delivering one of the Stewpot’s three routes takes approximately an hour and 15 minutes each day.

Those who deliver can pick meals up from 11 to noon and drive their route.

And Gunning isn’t even asking for perfect attendance from his drivers.

“A lot of people say they can’t do it because they can’t commit to it all the time, but if they just can’t be there, they can call me,” he said.

Gunning knows all the routes and drives them frequently. He doesn’t mind filling in if no one else can do it.

Meals are delivered every day of the week to the Adams County area. Gunning said he would like to have approximately 14 drivers share the duty, but right now he has 10. Most drivers drive one day a week.

The Stewpot also serves carryout meals to approximately 40 walk-in diners.

Food and money donations are important too, and Gunning said he’s grateful for area churches, businesses and individuals who donate on a regular basis.

The Stewpot can accept canned, frozen or other food items, though money is preferred due to limited storage space.

Hunters can donate deer or other meats by dropping them off at Dunn’s Deer Market for processing. The market frequently makes donations and will get it to the Stewpot.

The Stewpot accepts food leftover from church dinners or food from area farmers.

Monetary donations can be made to: Natchez Stewpot, P.O. Box 298, Natchez, MS 39121.

Food can be dropped off at the East Franklin Street location between 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. each day.

The Stewpot will provide a meal to anyone who walks in the door in need.

Deliveries are made to houses first checked out by Gunning for need and safety.

The non-profit agency operates entirely on donations and the only paid employee is one cook.

The annual budget is $50,000, which this year included building maintenance.

The extra expenses for building work were something for which Gunning had prepared.

“I had saved up for a rainy day fund, and we are going to be alright,” he said. “But we probably would have food problems if people didn’t give it to us so often.”