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NATCHEZ — While most gathered together to celebrate Thanksgiving, some volunteered their time on the holiday to serve others.

The Natchez Stewpot on average feeds around 365 Natchez residents every single day, seven days each week. On Thanksgiving, that number is closer to 400 residents, said director Marcus Archer.

Cook PJ Pullins said that took preparing around 25 whole turkeys and eight very large trays of dressing starting as early as 7:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving day.

These meals are served both to walk-ins and delivered to shut-in residents. For some, it’s the only meal they receive for the day.

“It’s a humbling experience,” said Angie Knapik, who started volunteering at the Stewpot on Thanksgiving last year.

“These are residents from not only here but across the bridge in Vidalia, too,” she said. “A lot of them are veterans. I don’t think any veteran should have to go without a meal ever. We should take care of our own. A lot of people talk about missions overseas, but we’ve got a mission right here in our hometown. We’ve got veterans walking through the door this morning and this is their only hot meal.”

Johnnie Davis said she has worked at the Stewpot for 36 years, at first as a driver and then as a cook. March will make 37 years, she said.

“Last year I took Christmas off but other than that I’ve been here every holiday and here six days every week,” she said. “On Sundays, the churches come in and work so that we can have one day off.”

Davis said more people are in need of help from the Natchez Stewpot now than when she first started working there. “We’ve got a lot more homeless people walking in and deliver to almost 200 shut-ins,” she said.

At times, Knapik said they would run out of bread and use pancakes instead or whatever they had available. Some food items they need, but get fewer donations of such as bread, canned fruit, dessert items, chicken and other meats.

Pullins said she had been a cook at the Stewpot since July but volunteered there regularly before then.

“It’s a lot different cooking for a whole lot of people,” she said. “I didn’t expect the public’s different attitudes. Most are positive and some come in upset that they can’t get more than they are allowed to. We tell them to come back later and see if we have extra so we can feed everyone. It’s a real problem. They definitely need it.”

Donations can be brought to the Stewpot at 69 East Franklin Street from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Anyone who would like to donate financially can send a check to Natchez Stewpot at P.O. Box 298 Natchez, MS 39120.

For more information, contact Archer at 601.442.9413.