SERVE, Inc.'s purpose is very clear.
"One Serve, One Mission," Courtney Harrison said.
Harrison started as executive director in March 27, replacing Steve Mallinckrodt following his retirement. She worked there the previous five years, so she had plenty of experience with the nonprofit and its many offerings, among them a food pantry, thrift store and transportation.
"I was the transportation director," Harrison added, speaking Wednesday from her office. "It's exciting. We have a lot to look forward to. We recently restructured, and we realized we outgrew our previous structure."
She said the nonprofit had four programs, each with its own director, making them unwieldy to manage. The RSVP program has been discontinued.
"Now we encompass One Serve, One Mission," Harrison added. "We truly are one agency with several services, and we've become more unified."
Included in the changes was the promotion of Keli Tate from manager of the thrift store, which recently underwent a name change from the Clothes Cupboard to Trends. She managed that for two years, and is now director of operations, which means she handles planning and many huge events.
"We're just starting to get the garden going," she said of SERVE's new veggie patches which will furnish fresh food to food pantry recipients. "We have a new staff member who's very, very passionate about it."
Not only is there a fenced plot, there are also some raised garden beds to help grow fresh produce.
Tate said she's happy the resale shop has found a permanent home at 1223 U.S. Business 54 in Fulton.
"We moved operations four times in one year," Tate said.
The previous location flooded out in the monsoons of Summer 2016, prompting a temporary move to a smaller, Jefferson Street site. Members of the Fulton VFW offered space to help SERVE workers sort stock. Then, the new location was sourced, purchased and remodeled, and opened last fall.
Because of the help from many Callaway County residents, volunteers, donors and businesses, Tate is planning a "gratitude" event this fall. For example, a few months ago Callaway County Boy Scouts collected more than 3,000 pounds of food to donate to SERVE. At Christmas, local law enforcement officers purchased and distributed hams, planned with the help of SERVE. People donate coats and hats, and more.
"There are so many things we've depended on from the community," Tate said. "We just want to make sure we're giving back to our donors and volunteers - a true thank you."
Details will be released later.
"Callaway County is so generous," Harrison added. "They've been a resource above and beyond anything I've ever seen."
Tate lives in the Hams Prairie area Harrison said she is a native of Callaway County.
"I was born and raised in Fulton, and now married and we're raising our kids here," she added.
She attended the University of Missouri and majored in psychology, and with a minor in business.
"My first year (in college), I went to Springfield," Harrison added. "It was too far and I had to come back home."
SERVE's annual senior expo recently concluded, and now plans are underway for July's back-to-school fair. Every school child in Callaway County - some 800 of them - are invited to take part in this popular event furnishing school supplies.
In September, applications will begin for SERVE's adopt-a-family initiative, furnishing gifts and a giant Christmas dinner to those who qualify.
"We always provide a full family meal," Tate said. "We all want the mashed potatoes and green beans. And pumpkin pie is a necessity."
Harrison said she's filling some pretty big shoes, but she's the kind of person who wants to get things done.
"I just want to say the executive directors before me, since 1972, paved the way," she said. "Steve Mallinckrodt - I learned so much from him. He was a great leader and a great guy, and he really paved the way for SERVE's future."
To learn more about SERVE, Inc. and a complete list of services, call 573-642-6388 or visit the organization's Facebook page.