Submitted by Rev. Melisa Derseweh, Morton Memorial UMC
Come to the mountain for the view, but also come visit Monteagle Mountain any Second Saturday to see Morton Memorial UMC and volunteers from the community sharing food with our neighbors. It feels like manna on the mountain.
For more than twenty years this congregation has been feeding their neighbors. The work began when a couple in the community began handing out bread, and has expanded into an organization that provides food to families every month.
A typical basket of groceries includes fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh bread, canned goods, breakfast foods, pantry items and meats.
In November 2025 Alyse Getty, Food Mission Director at Morton, knew that food insecurity had increased. Morton opened up for a second food distribution opportunity in the month, with the combined distribution in November resulting in 470 families served, representing 1,282 family members. Over 31,200 pounds of food were made available and a record number of volunteers showed up to move more than fifteen tons of food. Ninety-six of the families that arrived were new, emphasizing how drastically the need for food had grown.
Rev. Melisa Derseweh and others visit with people as they wait in line, offering words of encouragement and prayers when desired. Some of the neighbors have been coming for food for more than a decade. While food is the obvious reason for neighbors to show up, people also value their time visiting with Morton’s pastor and members.
Morton celebrates partnerships with The Chattanooga Area Food Bank, local farmers and community organizations that help make this work possible. Grants have arrived from Monteagle/Sewanee Rotary Club, South Cumberland Community Fund and most recently a gift from ENCORE to help fund this important mission.
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