Make it Matter: Cecil Morris

A former drug addict turns his life around and inspires others to do the same, one meal at a time.

The Person: Cecil Morris
The Cause: Salvation Army

Mobile, AL -- Cecil Morris struggled with alcohol and drugs during his early adult life. Living on the streets and at times eating out of garbage cans, he felt like life wasn't worth living. All that changed, however, when he entered the Salvation Army's Substance Abuse program 15 years ago.

As part of his rehabilitation program, Cecil began washing dishes for the Salvation Army's kitchen. Little by little, Cecil started to learn more about cooking from his mentors in the kitchen. He soon began trying out his own skills as a part-time cook, while staying sober. Within five years, Cecil had worked his way up to Culinary Arts Director for the Salvation Army in Mobile, Alabama.

Cecil's biggest challenge as Head Chef is to change the notion of the soup kitchen. Cecil says that the phrase "soup kitchen" has such a negative connotation associated with it, both in the type of people that eat there and the type of food that is served. But he is working hard to change that with his award-winning food. Cecil enters his food in local and state competitions and has never lost a competition. His most famous dish is ribs, which even received an award from Food Network star Paula Deen. With each competition, Cecil and his team are able to change what people think about a traditional soup kitchen.

Cecil has never considered leaving the Salvation Army kitchen to pursue employment at a restaurant or catering company. He chooses to stay at the Salvation Army, "for the others that need to hear my story."He has become a mentor to current dishwashers and part-time cooks who are just entering the substance abuse program. Cecil's success offers them a sense of hope.

Cecil and his team are able to find satisfaction in what they do when they see the faces of people who eat their food. Cecil says when you feed people that are truly hungry, and after the meal they lean back and smile, or pat their tummy in satisfaction--you know you've done your part.

To learn more, please visit the Salvation Army's site.

-- Submitted by Matt Meenan

 

 

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