Morrison softened hunger pangs for many

Published 12:09 am Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Donna Morrison’s volunteer work with area food banks has helped soften the pangs of hunger for more than 23 years. But on July 29, the assistant director of Bread of Life Food Bank will hang up her hat and retire.

Morrison, 55, first became interested in volunteering after her church announced a need for help through Friends in Service to Him – FISH Food Banks of Pierce County. It seemed a perfect way to help others while still nurturing her young family.

“I was originally looking for something to do at home with my little kids,” Morrison said.

Eventually, she made her way to the Bonney Lake Food Bank and served as its buyer for six years – a perfect fit for the born bargain hunter.

“The (board) told me what they needed and how much funds they had to buy it with,” she said. “I could get good prices for them. “

Volunteering soon became the norm in the Morrison household.

“My daughters grew up with this,” she said.

While they grew, they watched their mom open the Bread of Life Food Bank in the Prairie Ridge Community Center.

That was 17 years ago. Today, she’s in charge of opening the facility and readying it for its loyal staff of volunteers before recipients arrive between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Her first order of the day is to check phone messages.

“I have to see if there are any messages from community service volunteers who aren’t able to make it in,” she said. “I’ve got to keep a log of their hours served because some of our help is required to keep records for the court system or the school district’s graduation requirements.”

She also helps log in volunteer hours and their mileage, inventories food shipments and records the amount of commodities leaving the building – all crucial for meeting federal funding guidelines.

Serving those in need requires a compassionate heart through life’s neediest moments, she said.

“We never go by income when it comes to helping someone out,” she said. “There are so many middle-class families who are trying to get out of debt. If we help them, they can use their money instead to pay bills.”

Elderly recipients usually tend to express the most gratitude but often are the most difficult to help.

“They’re so appreciative to get the food,” she said. “It means a lot to know what we do here is helping them survive. Some of them are only making $400-$800 a month income.

“They’re grateful, but we can have a really tough time getting them to take something; some feel others are more in need of it. They’ll say, ‘that’s too much, I don’t need that.’ We have to convince them that it’s OK to take the food.”

Director Stew Bowen said without Morrison’s help, neither the Bonney Lake nor Bread of Life food banks would be in the healthy position they are today. “She taught me how to ‘food bank’” he said. “I didn’t have a clue about this when I started in 2005.”

Morrison’s greatest satisfaction of her job has come from the times when former recipients come in to thank the volunteers for helping them make it through tough times.

“That’s how you know you’re appreciated,” she said.

An open house celebrating Morrison’s service and retirement will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 29 at the Bread of Life Food Bank, 14104 Prairie Ridge Dr. in Bonney Lake. Its number is 360-897-9005.

To comment on this story view it online at www.blscourierherald. Reach Judy Halone at jhalone@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald or 360-802-8210.