85-year-old veteran volunteers tirelessly at Second Harvest
By Michelle Meredith
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ORLANDO, Florida (WESH) — Harold Sauter, an 85-year-old retired Air Force veteran and former coach, is a dedicated volunteer at Second Harvest in Orlando, where he has logged more than 1,300 hours of service, impressing fellow volunteers and staff with his commitment and energy.
Surrounded by thousands of pounds of food, Sauter is part supervisor, part comedian, and a full-time hard worker.
“You impress us. Good, I’ve been around long enough. It’s time for me to impress somebody. Tell my wife that, though,” he said.
Known as “Coach,” Sauter could be lounging in an easy chair with his feet up, but that’s not his style.
“When I retired when I was 70, I said I’m not going to just go somewhere and drink beer and take cruises, I’m going to go try to help people,” he said.
Sauter, who coached women’s softball and soccer at a college in Massachusetts and Celebration High School in Florida, began volunteering at Second Harvest during the pandemic when other organizations closed.
Inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s words during his college years, Sauter said, “This guy named John started talking about not what the country can do for you but what you can do for the country — and that kind of stuck with me.”
Mindy Ortez from Second Harvest praised Sauter’s dedication, saying, “And it’s physical work. You’re standing for three to four hours at a time. You’re moving boxes, you’re moving pallets. He’s doing all that twice a week.”
Sauter’s wife, Lorna, who has been married to him for 57 years, also admires his commitment.
When asked what she would rate her husband on a scale of 1 to 10, Lorna said, “Probably a 9. I give very few people a 10.”
Despite her modest rating, Sauter is considered a “10” by those who witness his volunteer efforts, embodying style and grace in his service.
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