Morton Memorial United Methodist Church is announcing plans to create a dedicated home for its long-standing food mission through a new space known as The Well.

Located on church-owned property immediately behind the church campus on Main Street in Monteagle, The Well will provide a permanent space designed specifically to support and expand the mission’s work of serving neighbors facing food insecurity. The project represents an important investment in a mission that has become one of Morton Memorial’s most visible and impactful community outreach efforts.

For years, the church’s food ministry has faithfully operated from the Fellowship Hall, providing food and support to hundreds of individuals and families. While that arrangement has served the ministry well, church leaders recognized an opportunity to make better use of existing church property while creating a space specifically designed for food ministry operations.

To make this vision a reality, Morton Memorial has launched the Filling the Well Campaign, a $1 million effort to fund the renovation and preparation of the property as the new home for The Well while also establishing an endowment to help sustain the mission’s operations well into the future. The campaign will ensure that both the facility and the mission it houses remain strong and vibrant for generations to come.

The new facility will allow the mission to operate more efficiently, provide additional storage, improve traffic flow and safety, and create a more welcoming environment for guests. It will also free the Fellowship Hall for church and community gatherings, allowing both ministries to flourish without competing for space.

“One of the exciting things about this project is that we already have the property,” said Melisa Derseweh, pastor at Morton. “The land is there. The mission is thriving. This project simply brings the two together in a way that allows us to serve our community more effectively while preparing for future growth.”

In addition to providing a dedicated facility, The Well will allow the mission to continue evolving toward a more personalized shopping experience that gives guests greater choice and dignity while fostering relationships between volunteers and those they serve.

The name The Well carries both historical and spiritual significance. The property that will become the mission’s new home once contained wells that provided water and sustenance for the surrounding community. Just as those wells served as a source of life and provision in an earlier time, Morton Memorial envisions The Well as a place that will continue that legacy of caring for neighbors and meeting essential needs.

“Long before this project was imagined, this property has a history of serving the community through the wells located there,” said Mike Keen, Chair, Church Leadership Board. “We love the idea that it will once again become a source of provision and care for our neighbors. The mission is different, but the purpose remains remarkably similar.”

The response from the congregation and community has been encouraging. To date, 46 percent of the campaign’s goal has already been committed through gifts and pledges, reflecting broad support for the project and confidence in its mission.

“Morton Memorial invites individuals, families, businesses, and community partners who share this vision to consider joining the effort. Every gift, regardless of size, helps create a place where neighbors can find nourishment, dignity, connection, and hope,” said Alyse Getty, Food Mission director.

For more information about The Well, the Filling the Well Campaign, or opportunities to support the project, contact Susan Askew, campaign chair at <saskew@sewanee.edu> or visit <www.mortonmemorialumc.org/thewell>.