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Amos House award to be named after Orr
Carolyn Mueller
Published 12:12 am, Monday, March 18, 2013

DANBURY -- Amos House Inc., a transitional living facility for homeless families, presents the Amos House Good Samaritan Award

during its annual spring breakfast to an individual who uses his or her time, treasure and talent to help those in need.

This year, the Amos House board of directors voted to rename the Good Samaritan award after the late Annie Orr, a former

member of the Amos House board of directors. The Annie Orr Good Samaritan Award will be presented at the spring breakfast,

which is to begin at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Amber Room Colonnade, 1 Stacey Road.

This year's recipient of the Annie Orr Good Samaritan Award will be Peter Brady, founder of the Handy Dandy Handyman Ministry.

The ministry has helped many of the Danbury area's elderly, disabled or financially disadvantaged people with home repairs,

yard work or other needs

"Peter and I have been side-by-side at agency fairs -- table buddies, you could say. He's a great guy. What he's doing is wonderful,"

said Gladys McFarland, executive director of Amos House. "Helping other people -- in nonprofit work, basically that's what it's all about."

"It's an incredible recognition for our organization," Peter Brady said. "It's certainly appreciated by the 2,200 volunteers we have

gathered to help the less fortunate in our community."

Orr was the First Congregational Church appointee to the Amos House Founding Board of Directors. For many years, she

coordinated the overflow shelter for the homeless at that church.

"Annie was the individual that most exemplified the type of individual we want to honor with the Good Samaritan Award,"

said Joe Walkovich, past president of the board of directors of Amos House. "Most importantly, the way she interacted with

homeless individuals. She knew each and every individual by name. She knew who to remind to take their medications,

she knew who would be late getting to the shelter because they had a job obligation, and who needed to get up early in

the morning to get to dialysis.

"She treated everyone with dignity and respect, no matter their station in life. She certainly was a lesson for me."

Orr had many volunteer activities on her resume, including work at the Dorothy Day Hospitality House.

She received the Good Samaritan Award in 2008.