Stone Soup Kitchen Ministries

In my favorite variation, a hungry traveler appears in a village with nothing but an empty cooking pot, a spoon, and his appetite. When the suspicious villagers will not show him any hospitality, he sets up his cooking pot in the village square and begins to boil water with a simple stone in it. As the curious townsfolk pass by and ask him what he is doing, he stirs the pot and tells them that he

is making stone soup. Further, he explains that at the end of the day when the soup is ready, everyone will be welcome to come and share it with him. Eventually, one person ventures that the soup might taste better with a few onions. Soon the villagers are each bringing a couple of carrots, a potato, a little salt, whatever they have on hand to add to the stone soup. At the end of the day, the whole town shares a delicious pot of soup (minus the stone, of course), and they have also learned a valuable lesson about the joys of sharing.

* * * * * *

Stone Soup Kitchen is a relational food and community-building nonprofit organization, which is community-funded. We work to alleviate food insecurity and hunger, while also bringing marginalized and lonely people together for food and friendship with other community members, helping them to form more relationships across the typical divides that keep people from socializing. Stone Soup Kitchen includes a food pantry, public potluck dinners, and many free activities that provide opportunities for people from all parts of the larger community to come together. We have many members of the wider community who come and visit with us, offering harm reduction counseling, hair cuts, craft gatherings, cooking classes, and wellness counseling. We are always looking to expand this part of our mission into other areas! From July 2019 until January 2025, Living Water Fellowship in Ayer MA was the home of Stone Soup Kitchen, which is a separate 501(c)3. The aim was to help provide a gathering place for anyone from the surrounding communities to get together, eat, and fellowship. We are very grateful to the church for the use of their space during that period of time. In January of 2025, we moved to Shepherd of the Valley, also in Ayer. We love our community, and so appreciate all of you who have gotten involved in contributing to our stone soup! If you wish to support the work we are doing, you can make monetary donations online at https://iccreditunion.goodcoins.io/causes/4125555
Checks made out to Stone Soup Kitchen can be sent to the address below. And food donations and gift cards can be left at Ayer Shop n' Save, a wonderful supporter of our program. We are a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Here is the address:
Stone Soup Kitchen
21 Washington Street
Suite C
Ayer MA 01432

To God be the glory, and our deepest gratitude and love to all of you wonderful people who raised your hands and said, "Here I am...I'll help!" Your encouragement, love, concern, and support has meant the world to us and we love you all