06/05/2026
Please join us in welcoming Mary Caillouet, the new Executive Director of The Community Soup Bowl!
Since stepping into this role, Mary says what has surprised her most is the sense of community that exists here every single day.
Before coming in, she shared that many people may picture a soup kitchen as simply a place where meals are handed out. What she found instead was a place built on relationships.
“I’ve watched volunteers learn guests’ names, guests look out for one another, and staff work incredibly hard to create an environment that feels welcoming and consistent,” Mary shared. “People matter here. The meal is important, but the human connection surrounding it is just as important.”
That is what Mary hopes more people in Tuscaloosa understand when they see a meal being served. They are seeing neighbors caring for neighbors. They are seeing volunteers giving their time, churches and donors making meals possible, and guests being treated with dignity and kindness.
For some of our lunch guests, this may be the most stable, welcoming interaction they have all day. A hot meal matters deeply, but so does being greeted warmly, being known by name, and having a place where you feel safe and seen.
In her first year, Mary hopes to help The Community Soup Bowl continue growing as a hub of connection and support for the community by strengthening volunteer involvement, building partnerships with local organizations, improving systems, and creating an even more welcoming space for everyone who walks through our doors.
At the heart of it all is a simple mission: neighbors caring for neighbors.
We are so grateful to have Mary leading this next chapter of The Community Soup Bowl.
