Cecil Morris: Finding Home and a Second Chance in the Kitchen
The Salvation Army’s feeding program in Mobile, Alabama is less a soup kitchen and more a culinary arts school. At the helm is Cecil Morris, who has served as food service manager for 31 years. Under his leadership, the kitchen has garnered more awards than most fine-dining establishments could even dream of. The Today Show, USA Today, and the People’s Choice Awards have all come knocking, curious about the secret behind their extraordinary success.
The secret to the success of Mobile’s food service program is a servant-hearted chef who began his journey far from any kitchen. Chef Cecil Morris comes from the last place you’d expect a chef to start — a garbage dumpster.
“My story is that I abused drugs. Drugs devastated my life,” Chef Morris explains. “But then a friend told me about The Salvation Army’s drug program. That program took me off the streets and stabilized me.”
Desperate for change, Morris came to The Salvation Army in search of a hot meal, but what he found was much more: a lifeline. He entered the rehabilitation program and began rebuilding his life, starting with a humble job washing dishes in the kitchen.
“Landing a job as a dishwasher opened up a gateway to opportunities that I never knew existed,” Morris says. “Eventually, I started cooking on weekends, and since then, I haven’t looked back.”
Over time, Morris worked up to the position of food service manager, transforming the kitchen with his passion and leadership. His dedication has earned national recognition and numerous awards, but what truly matters to Morris isn’t the accolades, it’s the people.
“Feeding people is a good thing because people come here underweight, malnourished, just looking for a good hot meal,” he reflects. “God has allowed me to touch so many lives. I’ve probably served about 2.3 million meals over these 31 years.”
Chef Morris’s legacy extends far beyond the kitchen. Many of the men who’ve passed through The Salvation Army’s doors under his guidance have gone on to become chefs themselves across the country. “A lot of the guys who have gone through our program are now running their kitchens with the skills they’ve learned here,” Morris says proudly.
For Morris, the real reward is the opportunity to share his story and offer hope. “It’s like looking in a mirror. I just tell my story, I just tell the truth,” he says. “I want people to see how great God is. He can do for anyone what He’s done for me. God can take you out of the garbage dumpster and set you on a new path if you let Him.”
Cecil Morris’s journey is a powerful reminder of what is possible with faith, hard work, and the support of a community like The Salvation Army. His story continues to inspire, as he helps others find the hope and opportunity that once transformed his own life.