The Beacon has a multi-decade history in Fort Scott as a helping agency to those with limited resources.
“The Beacon has just completed 33 years as a food pantry,” said Carol MacArthur, president of the Beacon Board of Directors. “We are working toward making Beacon’s services more available to clients, and this includes trying some methods not done previously.”
This includes the agency becoming more consumer-friendly by adding evening hours on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, starting March 12.
“On March 12, The Beacon will adapt its hours in order to become more “user-friendly” to Bourbon County residents,” MacArthur said.
“Since a number of individuals have expressed a need for evening hours, the Beacon staff will open for full service twice a month between 4:30 and 7 p.m.,” she said.
“We’ll be closed the Tuesday we are open in the evening,” said Garry Murrell, the director of the Beacon.
Murrell will be available to provide service and assistance as he does during day-time hours.
The Beacon provides a food pantry for the community.
“Basic needs for the family,” Murrell said. “Canned goods, rice, beans, potatoes, (the food) varies.”
“We have a limited amount of meat, which we give until we don’t have anymore,” he said.
Individuals, churches, businesses and others donate food throughout the year.
“We have a lot of food drives to help us,” Murrell said.
The Beacon also provides financial assistance, if the person qualifies, for utility bills, and occasionally rent and prescription assistance.
“If we have the funds, we can help,” Murrell said. “If we don’t we can’t.”
The new evening hours will be offered on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month.
March 12th and 26th
April 9th and 23rd
May 14th and 28th.
To contact the Beacon, please call 223-6869.