Stone Soup Kitchen Ministries

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Stone Soup Kitchen Ministries A local potluck and food pantry. We get together, we share food, and we talk

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

Stone Soup Kitchen opens at 4 pm on Friday evenings, located in Shepherd of the Valley Church on Washington Street in Ay...
10/09/2026

Stone Soup Kitchen opens at 4 pm on Friday evenings, located in Shepherd of the Valley Church on Washington Street in Ayer.

**For Friday dinner, you must park in the lot off of Newton St and walk up to the first blue door unless you are disabled**
For the Saturday food pantry, please come to the parking lot on Cambridge St. It is open from 10 to noon.
* * * * *

Dinner is open to ANYone who wants a good hot meal and some company...no need to bring anything but yourself unless you want to! From 4 to 5, we are open for those who want to get together and socialize in the dining room. The potluck dinner is available from 5 to 5:30 followed by dessert and our open support group, which runs from 5:30 to 6, if you'd like to stay for it after dinner. Our potluck this week features sloppy joe casserole with various sides, dessert, juice, coffee, and some extra snacks to take home for the weekend.

Our food pantry is open every Saturday morning from 10 to noon, same location. Come to the parking lot on Cambridge Street and follow the arrows. If you need food, or KNOW someone who needs food...please come pick some up. Email any questions to stonesoupkitchenministries @ gmail . com (remove the spaces) or leave us a private message on our page. ANYone is welcome...no questions asked. No registration, residency, income, or ID requirements.

Special thanks this week to Trolley Dogs, Ayer Parks Department, Ayer Fire Department, Penzeys Spices, Devan Aradhya, Beth Condon, Maria Viera, Leslie Ferguson, Frances Markel, Janet Providakes, Patty MacDonald, IC Credit Union, The Groton School, Cecily, Emma, + Nico, Ayer Library, Rachel Kozera + the Garden Gleaners, Mike Graves + Community Harvest Project Inc., Boston Area Gleaners at Stonefield Farm, Alltown Fresh, Paula Sullivan, Laurie Sabol, the Cookie Bakers, Mike Hurley, Pauline Conley, Alison + Rich Enright, Rick + Becky Jones, Elisabeth + Greg Dinning, Louise Bresnahan, Harvard Lions Club + Ed Gordon, Greater Lowell Community Foundation, Christine + James Wood, Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Inc. + Nancy Goss, Teri Tirado, Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, Anonymous pantry donors, Nicole + Hunter Thoen, the anonymous donors at Shop n' Save, Kathyann + John Ellis, Tina Simpson, Kyndra Lutz, Donna Deforge, Melanie + Greg Pepin, Elliot Murray, Lin Miller, Kim + Bob Miller, Carol Sniegoski, Ginger Quarles, Dan Condon, Sue Cormier, Kathleen O'Connor, Ned Cheesman, Charlotte Miller, Jane Mahle, Denise Stepleton, Nancy Difrancesco, Cher Middlebrook, Lillian Johnson, Blithe A, Patty MacDonald, Catie Hayes, Mike Velardi, Crystal Drew, everyone at Ayer Shop n' Save, Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, and the entire local community!

Stone Soup Kitchen is located at 21 Washington Street, Suite C, Ayer MA 01432
Parking is in the lot off of Newton Street

What a beautiful (and delicious) evening! Thank you to the Ayer Fire Department, Gerry and the Parks Department, and to...
10/07/2026

What a beautiful (and delicious) evening! Thank you to the Ayer Fire Department, Gerry and the Parks Department, and to Trolley Dogs

10/06/2026
Tomorrow evening! Don't miss out on the chance to get a free Trolley Dogs hotdog and to visit with our Ayer Firefighter...
10/05/2026

Tomorrow evening! Don't miss out on the chance to get a free Trolley Dogs hotdog and to visit with our Ayer Firefighters!

Franks and Firefighters: Tuesday October 6, 5-6ish pm at Pirone Park in Ayer!

Stone Soup Kitchen opens at 4 pm on Friday evenings, located in Shepherd of the Valley Church on Washington Street in Ay...
10/02/2026

Stone Soup Kitchen opens at 4 pm on Friday evenings, located in Shepherd of the Valley Church on Washington Street in Ayer.

**For Friday dinner, you must park in the lot off of Newton St and walk up to the first blue door unless you are disabled**
For the Saturday food pantry, please come to the parking lot on Cambridge St. It is open from 10 to noon.
* * * * *

Dinner is open to ANYone who wants a good hot meal and some company...no need to bring anything but yourself unless you want to! From 4 to 5, we are open for those who want to get together and socialize in the dining room. The potluck dinner is available from 5 to 5:30 followed by dessert and our open support group, which runs from 5:30 to 6, if you'd like to stay for it after dinner. Our potluck this week features sweet and sour pork with various sides, dessert, juice, coffee, and some extra snacks to take home for the weekend.

Our food pantry is open every Saturday morning from 10 to noon, same location. Come to the parking lot on Cambridge Street and follow the arrows. If you need food, or KNOW someone who needs food...please come pick some up. Email any questions to stonesoupkitchenministries @ gmail . com (remove the spaces) or leave us a private message on our page. ANYone is welcome...no questions asked. No registration, residency, income, or ID requirements.

Special thanks this week to Angela + Andy George, Kathy Daly, Carol Murphy, Maria Viera, Adrienne Franceschi, Tina Bradshaw, Ayer Community Garden, Patrick Hughes, Chuck King, Sue + Norm Buck, Congregational Church of Harvard, Deborah Clark, The Groton School, Cecily, Emma, + Nico, Ayer Library, SOV's community garden + Andy + Bethany, Rachel Kozera + the Garden Gleaners, Mike Graves + COMMUNITY HARVEST Community Harvest Project Inc., Boston Area Gleaners at Stonefield Farm, Alltown Fresh, Paula Sullivan, Laurie Sabol, the Cookie Bakers, Mike Hurley, Pauline Conley, Alison + Rich Enright, Rick + Becky Jones, Elisabeth + Greg Dinning, Louise Bresnahan, Harvard Lions Club + Ed Gordon, Greater Lowell Community Foundation, Christine + James Wood, Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Inc. + Nancy Goss, Teri Tirado, Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, Anonymous pantry donors, Nicole + Hunter Thoen, the anonymous donors at Shop n' Save, Kathyann + John Ellis, Tina Simpson, Kyndra Lutz, Donna Deforge, Melanie + Greg Pepin, Elliot Murray, Lin Miller, Kim + Bob Miller, Carol Sniegoski, Ginger Quarles, Dan Condon, Sue Cormier, Kathleen O'Connor, Ned Cheesman, Charlotte Miller, Jane Mahle, Denise Stepleton, Nancy Difrancesco, Cher Middlebrook, Lillian Johnson, Blithe A, Patty MacDonald, Catie Hayes, Mike Velardi, Crystal Drew, everyone at Ayer Shop n' Save, Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, and the entire local community!

Stone Soup Kitchen is located at 21 Washington Street, Suite C, Ayer MA 01432
Parking is in the lot off of Newton Street

Address

Ayer, MA

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 12pm
Friday 4pm - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 12pm

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