Christmas spirit stirs KLLM employees
Mar 1, 2003 12:00 PM
The spirit of Christmas arrived in Jackson MS aboard an 18-wheeler recently.
As Santa stepped down to join about 60 inner-city children at a party hosted by KLLM employees, another group of employees busied themselves with the off-loading of their gifts to Stewpot Community Services. This is the fourth year that KLLM employees have adopted the children in Stewpot's after-school program for Christmas. Besides providing gifts from the children's wish lists and an after-school Christmas party, KLLM employees have been collecting groceries since October for Stewpot's food pantry.
“This project makes Christmas real for us,” said Jim Richards, KLLM senior vice-president. “Watching our employees get into providing for these children is a treat, but the real treat is in knowing that on Christmas morning these children won't be disappointed.”
Local companies Utility Trailers of Mississippi, Southern Tire Sales, and Bill's Vendors all contributed to the project. KLLM customer Fresh Express of Salinas CA also contributed to the project.
Stewpot began as a soup kitchen in 1981 and today offers assistance through 16 ministry programs. More than 300 meals per day are served at the soup kitchen in addition to 50 meals delivered to homebound individuals. The food pantry at Stewpot assists about 700 people each month. The Billy Brumfield Shelter sleeps approximately 50 men per night and offers a work program for residents, while the women and children's shelters have provided safe-housing for some 300 women and 400 children in 2002.
