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Pay It Forward: Helping Orion’s Hungry Residents

It is harvest season and everywhere you see plenty. In Henry County, amid the thousands of rows of corn, it’s hard to believe some go hungry.    But they ...

It is harvest season and everywhere you see plenty.

In Henry County, amid the thousands of rows of corn, it's hard to believe some go hungry.    But they do.

And there are people volunteering to help solve the problem.

"Steve and Pastor Jan, on behalf of News 8 and Ascentra Credit Union, I have for you 300-dollars to pay it forward," saaid Judith Rehder as she presented three crisp $100 bills to the organizers of the Orion Area Food Pantry.

It's part of the News 8/Ascentra Credit Union "Pay It Forward" program that gives money to people making a difference in their community.

Inside communities big and small are pockets of hunger many people don't see.

But inside Orion's Village Hall is a pocket of help that's run by a group of volunteers led by Pastor Jan Veseth and Steven Wright.

"I'm truly amazed at this community and the outreach that they have for the Food Pantry," said Wright who started working for the pantry two and a half years ago.

The Orion Area Food Pantry helps families throughout the school district.   It's reaching more than 500-families last year alone.

"There are many, many families that are in need", said Pastor Veseth.

About three years ago, this decades-old food pantry was in disarray.  But Steve and Pastor Jan helped revive the program and have seen it now serve more people than they first imagined they could.

"That's the key: you have people sacrifice their time and their effort and the food pantry is now just a vital part of the community," said Rehder, who helped establish the pantry in the 1980s.

But it's an ongoing campaign to stock these shelves for the twice a month distribution to "food poor" families in the area.

"I think things are hard in the economy," said Wright.

And there's always more need.

"Soups, canned meats, and fruits," Pastor Jan lists as the items they need the most.

"Fruits are a very dear, dear food stuff and it's expensive."

"I can't imagine not having the food pantry," said Rehder.

"As so many families, I'm sure I couldn't imagine not having a food pantry."

And more ways to help people, particularly children.

The Orion Area Food Pantry now has a backpack program that gives grade school children extra food on Friday to make sure they have something to eat over the weekend.

Many of the donations come from a band of volunteers and from many Henry County farm families that know a thing or two about the importance of good, healthy food.

We were able to give the food pantry $300 thanks to Judith's letter telling us about the group's good work.  Do you know someone making a difference in their community?  Click here to nominate them for our "Pay It Forward" program.

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