NATCHEZ — When the director of the Natchez Stewpot recently put out a request for vegetables from the community, the local organization accustomed to giving became a receiver.

Donations flooded in from the Natchez community, director Amanda Jeansonne said, and now the shelves that were nearly empty are filled again.

Since the vegetable need has been filled, the kitchen is now asking for desserts.

Canned peaches, pears, apples — anything that can be served to the public, she said, would make the day of a hungry patron.

So far this year, Jeansonne said the kitchen has served more than 70,000 meals.

Each day the volunteers at the Stewpot create 200 meals for shut-ins and elderly — one for lunch and one for dinner — as well as enough food to feed anyone who might come to the building during lunch.

Altogether, Jeansonne said they cook approximately 300 meals every day.

“Christmas, Easter, you name it,” Jeansonne said. “We’re open 365 days a year.”

On Sept. 30, the Stewpot will begin receiving donations from Hunters for the Hungry, an organization that collects meat from local hunters and gives it to charities in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Often, Jeansonne said, hunters have leftover meat from the last hunting season and, instead of cleaning out their freezers, they can donate that food to the Stewpot.

Hunters for the Hungry also pays for the processing of anyone who has killed a deer and does not want the meat.

This partnership, Jeansonne said, helps keep Stewpot stocked year-round.

Whenever a donation is made, Jeansonne keeps a log of the donor’s name and address so she can send them a thank-you note later.

Considering the donations that flooded in over the past week, she has many to write, she said.

Approximately 30 churches volunteer or donate regularly with the soup kitchen and approximately 40 people volunteer regularly, Jeansonne said.

“We are so blessed at the Stewpot to be supported by this very generous community,” Jeansonne said. “And the stewpot blesses not only the people who are served, but the people who have the opportunity to serve.”