Fair continues late pastor’s longtime dream
TELFORD » Pastor Larry Orme saw the Penn Valley Community Fair before it ever happened.
“The fair was his vision for many years before we actually started doing it,” said Jennifer Fretz, chairwoman of the church’s Music and Events Committee.
“Each year, it was his desire to just make it bigger and better for the community to show the community that we’re here, that we care about the community, that we love the community,” Fretz said, “and, of course, everything that we raise goes back into the community.”
Proceeds from the fair, which this year will run June 13 through 17, will benefit Keystone Opportunity Center, the Telford Volunteer Fire Company and the Indian Valley Public Library.
Orme, Penn Valley’s executive pastor and campus pastor of the Telford campus at 320 N. Third St., passed away in April.
This year’s community fair is a continuation of Orme’s vision, Fretz said.
“He wouldn’t want us to do anything big and fancy as far as honoring him, but it’s our desire to really just honor that vision,” she said.
Pastor Adam Larew, Orme’s son-in-law and associate pastor at Journey Church in Warrington, said Orme did a lot of the fair work initially but also raised up others to carry on that work.
“There’s so many people now that have taken ownership and leadership of the fair,” Larew said. “Even last year, when he was sick, the fair really went very smooth as a result of what he did to establish this, and I think that’s a neat legacy.”
This is the fifth year the fair is being held.
In its first four years, it has contributed more than $85,000 to the community organizations, with $46,900 going to Keystone, $18,900 to the fire company and $19,500 to the library.
“We use the carnival as a way to bless the community and have some fun,” Orme said when last year’s distribution to the organizations was made. “It’s really about creating a good experience for our community.”