Morrison Friends Food Pantry was begun in 1985. It is presently located in the upstairs of United Methodist Church, 200 W. Lincolnway, Morrison, IL, in adjoining rooms 203 and 205. People use the N. Knox Street entrance, leading up the steps to the 21 foot x 21 foot room. It holds two refrigerator/freezers, a chest freezer, and several shelving units, as well as tables to check clients in and to box/bag foodstuffs for the families.
Extra value is offered by Morrison Friends Food Pantry, over other pantries. Clients find cleaning supplies, paper products, personal and grooming items, and a limited number of baby care products and diapers.
The pantry’s usual hours of operation are non-holiday Thursday mornings, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Beginning February 18, 2017, the pantry offered one Saturday morning per month, in order to accommodate those who work during the weekdays. Clients are still allowed to come to the pantry once a month, whether it is a Thursday or a third-Saturday-of-the-month morning.
Current Pantry Director, Kaywyn Beswick reports, “The Ministers Council asked us last year to consider being open one evening or one Saturday morning per month, in order to reach those who cannot come to the pantry on weekday mornings. This request was also in consideration of volunteers who go to school or work, but want to come help out. We were recently approached by a small group from one of the pantry’s supporting churches. They wanted to volunteer on a Saturday morning. ‘The light bulb went on,’ and the Saturday Morning Pantry hours were established.”
The group began on Saturday, February 18. Saturday, March 18, is the next weekend opportunity.
Shown left-to-right are Carole Patton, Joanne Peterson, Dee Morgan, Kris Muur, Richard Swanson, Randy Muur, Audie Roselieb, and Kathy VanderVinne.
