Dear editor:
On Dec. 15, a whole slew of volunteers distributed food and gifts to 205’up from 165? local families. Every year the number grows, and every year the Ortonville Community Emergency Fund board members ask, ‘Can we do this?? This year it was, ‘We MUST do this!?
Forty-five minutes before scheduled opening time, people lined up in the bitter cold, the line reaching way out into the parking lot. As they came inside by tens, I registered each client. Some comments I heard (besides ‘brrrr?) were, ‘I have given to the food pantry, but I never thought I would need it,? ‘I’ve never done this before,? and the most touching of all, when I apologized to a shivering woman for making her wait in the cold, ‘Don’t say that. We are just thankful you are here!?
The OCEF board is most thankful that all of you generous donors and volunteers are here. You came through like the caring people you are. To all of you, A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! And to those families who are temporarily on the receiving end, a wish for a better year in 2009.
Sue Howard
OCEF board