New leader to help feed those in need

Throughout the pandemic, the Crisis Bread Basket has been meeting the needs of hungry community members in the Wimberley Valley. Although board members might change, their mission doesn’t.

“To collect, receive and store food donated by any person, firm, corporation or charitable institution. To provide food on a shortterm basis for economically disadvantaged persons and families…”

Joe Morris has been with the CBB as the Treasurer and Vice-Chairman and “ascended to being Chairman,” voted on by the board in December. “There’s new people and great talent. I’m excited about the year and grateful they’re working with us,” said Morris.

“We’ve had over five hundred donors that gave funds to the CBB… During the past year, two hundred forty-five families or households received weekly distributions.” But with COVID-19, some things had to be changed.

“We’re a small pantry. Most volunteers are in the at-risk area… Distribution changed in mid March.” People would now work in teams and in building shopping was canceled.

“We switched. Before it was all about a shopping experience. We couldn’t do that. We moved to a curbside type of thing… to minimize their contact points. We felt comfortable about it all with masks and sanitizer. We are trying to keep some type of personal engagement with the clients”

With an increase in customers, new avenues of supplies were needed. Local food supplies were augmented with a new supplier food distributor Ben E, Keith, and gift cards to local grocers were used more “to provide flexibility for our clients… It’s only a portion of what they need.”

Morris has seen the changes of Central Texas, through the years. His dad was an Air Force Chaplain stationed at Bergstrom Air Force Base, before it became the airport. He attended Texas A&M and received a B.A. and a Masters in Geophysics. He worked in the oil industry for nearly forty years. Working his way up, he started as a geophysicist then progressed to senior level management positions with various companies including Arco and BP.

In his professional life “I’ve also lived in England, Germany, five years in Laredo, Okinawa for three years, Sioux City Iowa, back to Texas, Dallas, Houston, Midland back to Houston.” He retired in 2019, and he and his wife Jennifer now live here full time. They have a blended family of five children.

“The wife and I reconnected ten years ago, we were high school sweethearts. Her dad was a chaplain in the army too… We looked at places to retire, she loved Wimberley. We spent time looking around and built here. We designed the house and built in South River…Forty miles from where I was born.” Wimberley’s small town atmosphere with neighbors helping neighbors touched a responsive chord.

CBB helping those in need became something close to Morris’ heart. His conversion to Catholicism “gave me the Christian perspective and an encounter with Jesus…I’d like to make things better for people. You can’t solve all problems, but that’s my motivation.”

As for the future, “we’re positioned well to meet the pandemic…we’ve been here since 1986 and we’re planning to be here as long as we are needed.”

For more information on the Crisis Bread Basket, a 501 3 (c) non-profit, see the website at crisisbreadbasket.com