Morris Honored w/Lifetime Achievement Award

Betty Morris of Altamont has been involved in the Meals on Wheels program in her community for more than 40 years. Morris was recognized for her years of service by CEFS Economic Opportunity Corporation with the Paul D. White Lifetime Achievement Award. 

The award was presented at the 52nd Annual Board of Directors meeting in Effingham. The award was established in honor of longtime CEFS Chief Executive Officer Paul White to recognize individuals for their leadership and dedication to "Helping People and Changing Lives" in their communities for more than 25 years.

Betty Morris has been a volunteer for Meals on Wheels since the program was taken on by CEFS Economic Opportunity Corporation in January 1973. Prior to that, Betty and her husband Hilliard were instrumental in the meal program's beginning in Altamont. They worked alongside others in the community to prepare the food at the Altamont Municipal Building, package it for home delivery, and then deliver the meals to the homebound seniors where they would check on the client's wellbeing and briefly visit with the individual.

In the past year, Morris provided leadership by recruiting volunteer drivers to deliver meals and coordinated the placement of volunteers to deliver meals one week each month.

Betty Morris has also been involved in and coordinated the blanket project at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Altamont, making sure fabric was available and making many of the quilt tops herself. She also volunteered at Lutheran Care Center for many years, and she and Hilliard were actively involved in getting the Ballard Nature Center started and volunteered at the facility.