A well-attended activity during the 200 W. Main Street Block Party, in Morrison, IL, on Sunday, July 25, 2021, was a dunk tank. Law Enforcement personnel availed themselves of multiple opportunities to cool off. To throw a ball and trigger the drop mechanism, cash donations were accepted.
Dunkees included Morrison Police Chief Brian Melton and several Officers; Whiteside County Sheriff John Booker; local Illinois State Trooper Josh Vos.
On Thursday, July 29, about 9: 30 a.m., Chief Melton and Officer Mason Sitzmore presented Morrison Friends Food Pantry Director Kaywyn Beswick with a check for $200. Several MFFP volunteers witnessed the gift.
“The last Thursday of each month has fewer families” coming to pick up their once-a-month food supplies,” reported Beswick. Only “five-of-the-last-11 families came today, because this was a [late] fifth Thursday, pick up day.” She cited January as the busiest month with 143 clients, including 56 children. May is less active, as families travel; there were 100 clients, with 33 kids served two months ago.
Left-to-right are Rick Barr, Paul Wikoff, Richard Swanson, Len and Leveda Ashlin, Chief Melton, Officer Sitzmore, Beswick, Carole Patton, Kathie VanderVinne, Pat Popkin, and Ron Finnicum.
- Sterling, IL, Sauk Valley Food Bank supplies MFFP with “close to 100 pounds of fresh produce per week; sometimes up to 200 pounds,” Beswick said. On the day, this included asparagus, cantaloupe, carrots, celery, cucumbers, bagged salad, green onions, sweet corn, and tomatoes.
- Morrison Sullivan’s Foods donates excess bakery items.
Everyone displayed their favorite sweet treat or bread to illustrate the variety. True to the stereotype, the Police Officers held–and took with them–doughnuts!
