Greatest Person: Kim Morris is a Survivor, Volunteer and Teacher

Delivering meals to seniors, working with underprivileged children, walking to raise money for breast cancer awareness—this is all part of a day’s work for Kim Morris

The local mother of two signed on as a volunteer for Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels shortly after her first son was born in 2005.

“I stopped working at that point, so I wanted to find a volunteer opportunity that I could do with him. There are not many places to volunteer with an infant,” Morris, 37, said.

Morris continued delivering meals after her second son was born, and eventually became president of the board of directors for the nonprofit, which delivers meals to seniors and others with limited mobility.

Three years ago, Morris used her experience as a teacher to start a second volunteer job, working one-on-one with underprivileged children at the Community Partnership School in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood of Philadelphia.

“The students benefit from one-on-one time, and we work with reading or math.

It’s fun for me, too, because my son is in first grade, and I get a sense of what he’s doing, and learn more about the curriculum,” Morris said.

While spreading her time between these two activities, Morris was hit with hard news in Sept. 2010. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to undergo chemotherapy and surgery.

Instead of letting her condition slow her down, those who she works with at Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels, she kept going with her volunteer activities.

“Kim is one of the best people I know. She is the President of our Board at Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels, and not only did she not miss a beat with our organization for the entire duration of her treatment but she did it with a smile,” said Laurene Topping, who is a member of the same board.

After undergoing treatment for her cancer, Morris had a new cause to add to her philanthropic interests: breast cancer awareness.

Last year, Morris participated in the three-day Susan G. Komen walk, which spreads over 60 miles. Individually, she raised $13,000 for breast cancer awareness, and her team raised a total of $26,000.

This year, she plans to participate in the walk again, this time in Washington, D.C.

“My college roommate walked with me in the Philadelphia walk last year. We were bridesmaids in each other’s weddings. Another bridesmaid in her wedding, she was diagnosed this year,” Morris said.

“So we’re going to do it together in Washington, D.C. I’m excited to do it again in a different place. And this way, since it is on a different weekend, I can volunteer at the one in Philadelphia.”