YouthCare James W. Ray Orion Center &
Hands of Hope Food Bank
We’d like to extend a special congratulations to YouthCare Orion Center and Hands of Hope Food Bank, member agencies that won $500 each for submitting agency stories to a Gift Card Giveaway held in January! Here are their special stories:
Hands of Hope Food Bank
"There are many stories that come from a food bank. But the one that I would like to tell you about is about something that happened very recently. We were open, giving out food the week after Christmas. One of the volunteers was handing out candy canes to the children as they came in.
One of the little boys came across the room to me and at first I told him, 'Honey, you cannot be in this area.' He looks at me with a sweet face and says, 'I just wanted to give you this candy for Christmas because I didn't get a chance to get you anything.'
Let me tell you, I cried. For a young child who I know does not have much, to give up his candy to give something to me for Christmas, that was awesome!"
Sue Osborn
Director
Hands of Hope Food Bank
"At YouthCare’s James W. Ray Orion Center we have a youth 'peer' who is paid to help with drop-in, meals etc. He was really enjoying his time in the kitchen so he started working with our volunteer professional chef to prepare lunch 2 days a week for the 40-50 homeless and runaway youth who eat with us. The volunteer chef and peer decided to have a meatloaf contest and each created a meatloaf from very different recipes (one spicy with sausage and one traditional but with a flavorful sauce). We had a true taste-off and the peer won (his dish was really the better dish).
We are planning more cooking contests for the future because it was enjoyed by all!"
Ruth Blaw, M.Ed.
Director
James W. Ray Orion Center