The Beacon, Inc., including board members, director, and staff, wishes to express its appreciation for the efforts of the owners of the Fort Scott Washateria as they begin to organize the Community Clothes Closet, according to a press release from the helping agency.

The Beacon, Inc. had provided a clothes closet to its clients, as well as to anyone in the community for a small fee, for over thirty years.

“Due to staffing and changing needs,” said Director Gary Murrell, “We came to the decision as a board to focus more fully and creatively on funding and maintenance of the food pantry and in providing financial assistance.”

“We know that the need for a clothing closet is ongoing, but we had come to a turning point at the Beacon,” said Carol MacArthur, board chairwoman. “We simply had to make changes.”

“The organization of this Community Clothes Closet is most certainly an answer to prayer,” said Murrell.

The Beacon, Inc., in existence for almost forty years, began as churches in the community came together to serve the needs of Fort Scott and Bourbon County.

They have provided those struggling in the community as a food pantry and in offering financial assistance, dominantly through the efforts of community-related donations.

Currently, the organization provides food and financial assistance, as well as other services; i.e., books, through a free library of donations, and new, or like-new, clothing, shoes, and bedding from community drives and individuals.

“If an organization does a drive of new things (clothes) perhaps,” MacArthur. “That (donation)is set up with Gary Murrell (the director) beforehand. We always need blankets. If someone has a need for work clothing or boots, we will help as much as we can. And we do meet special needs like that, to get people to work. Our focus is on food and financial assistance. That in itself is a struggle.”

The Beacon is located at 525 E. Sixth Street, Fort Scott, Ks. 66701, and is open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, with one exception.

 On the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, the Beacon is closed during the day and is open instead from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The phone number is 620-223- 6869, and visitors are welcome to visit the facility.