{"url":"https://www.palestineherald.com/news/local_news/stock-pot-still-serving-others/article_2d73e47f-6df0-5ae0-ab22-49aac7db0c1b.html","title":"Stock Pot still serving others","domain":"palestineherald.com","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/6647064/pexels-photo-6647064.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","pexelsSearchTerm":"soup kitchen volunteers","category":"Sports","language":"en","slug":"8d047f21","id":"8d047f21-6dc4-43c8-bc53-869c09f9c07c","description":"The article covers The Stock Pot soup kitchen in Palestine, Texas, and its ongoing community service.","summary":"## TL;DR\n- The article covers The Stock Pot soup kitchen in Palestine, Texas, and its ongoing community service.\n- Operating since 1986 at 410 Ave. A, it serves free hot lunches weekdays to about 60 people daily.\n- All-volunteer effort funded by donations shows lasting local support for the needy.\n\n## The story at a glance\nThe Palestine Herald article looks at The Stock Pot, a soup kitchen that has fed the hungry in downtown Palestine for nearly 40 years. Local churches like Crockett Road Church of Christ, First Presbyterian, and Sacred Heart Catholic provide volunteer crews for weekday lunches. It's reported now to highlight its endurance amid community needs, with recent volunteer events confirming it still operates.[[1]](https://www.palestineherald.com/news/help-stock-the-stock-pot/article_8f4d1cde-3bfe-11ec-9b66-c3148a52f9bf.html)[[2]](https://www.palestineherald.com/news/local_news/more-meals-more-blessings/article_90419881-b649-5364-910e-6afbe4fc0652.html)[[3]](http://crockettroadchurchofchrist.org/stockpot.html)\n\n## Key points\n- Started in 1986 as Palestine's soup kitchen, run by all volunteers with no paid staff.\n- Located at 410 Ave. A (or West Palestine Avenue, Suite A); serves free hot, home-cooked lunches weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.[[4]](https://www.findhelp.org/stockpot-of-palestine,-inc.--palestine-tx--lunchtime-meals/6315878243368960?postal=75801)\n- Typically feeds around 60 people a day; first Monday shift in 2008 served 32, expected to grow.\n- Volunteers from local churches: Crockett Road on Mondays, First Presbyterian on Wednesdays, Sacred Heart on Thursdays; others fill in.\n- Supported only by community donations and an annual FEMA grant; groups hold fundraisers like chili cook-offs.\n- Recent activity includes youth football league serving lunch in October 2025 and church mentions into 2026.[[5]](https://www.palestineherald.com/gallery/gallery-youth-football-league-volunteers-serve-lunch-at-the-stockpot-sunday/collection_58f11190-8fe2-4d24-9e8d-4f2afd588045.html)\n\n## Details and context\nThe Stock Pot fills a key gap for homeless people and others who might eat just these meals some weeks. Volunteers cook, serve, and clean up, often seeing guests return for seconds or thirds. It expanded from two days to at least three (and later five) after recruiting teams like the Thompsons from Crockett Road Church.[[2]](https://www.palestineherald.com/news/local_news/more-meals-more-blessings/article_90419881-b649-5364-910e-6afbe4fc0652.html)\n\nChurches and groups donate food, money, and time; contact First Presbyterian at 903-729-5730 to volunteer. Recent listings show daily weekday service continuing, with inspections and partnerships active as of late 2024.[[6]](https://www.cityofpalestinetx.com/DocumentCenter/View/3113/The-Stockpot-of-Palestine---October-25-2024)\n\n## Key quotes\n“We started Monday and had a lot of fun.” – Jerry Thompson, Monday crew leader.[[2]](https://www.palestineherald.com/news/local_news/more-meals-more-blessings/article_90419881-b649-5364-910e-6afbe4fc0652.html)\n\n“The prayers for more days to serve hot meals in Palestine have been answered.” – Dan Herron, volunteer.[[2]](https://www.palestineherald.com/news/local_news/more-meals-more-blessings/article_90419881-b649-5364-910e-6afbe4fc0652.html)\n\n## Why it matters\nIn small towns like Palestine, services like The Stock Pot prevent hunger for those without steady food access. It means reliable weekday meals for locals in need, plus volunteer chances that build community ties. Watch for donation drives or expansion to more days, as needs could grow with economic pressures.","hashtags":["#community","#service","#soup","#kitchen","#volunteers","#palestine"],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.palestineherald.com/news/local_news/stock-pot-still-serving-others/article_2d73e47f-6df0-5ae0-ab22-49aac7db0c1b.html","title":"Original article"},{"url":"https://www.palestineherald.com/news/help-stock-the-stock-pot/article_8f4d1cde-3bfe-11ec-9b66-c3148a52f9bf.html","title":""},{"url":"https://www.palestineherald.com/news/local_news/more-meals-more-blessings/article_90419881-b649-5364-910e-6afbe4fc0652.html","title":""},{"url":"http://crockettroadchurchofchrist.org/stockpot.html","title":""},{"url":"https://www.findhelp.org/stockpot-of-palestine,-inc.--palestine-tx--lunchtime-meals/6315878243368960?postal=75801","title":""},{"url":"https://www.palestineherald.com/gallery/gallery-youth-football-league-volunteers-serve-lunch-at-the-stockpot-sunday/collection_58f11190-8fe2-4d24-9e8d-4f2afd588045.html","title":""},{"url":"https://www.cityofpalestinetx.com/DocumentCenter/View/3113/The-Stockpot-of-Palestine---October-25-2024","title":""}],"viewCount":3,"publishedAt":"2026-04-05T18:36:14.297Z"}