Friends, Legion Step up to Aid Local Family

For the Orrs, it's been one bad break after another as of late: an injury on the job for mom, a job loss for dad, and most recently a bone infection that has resulted in hefty medical bills for the family.

But, as they say, that's what friends are for. 

Members in the East Hampton American Legion Post No. 419 have organized a fundraiser to lend the active members in the club a hand.

When a bone infection spread in one of Bob Orr's feet, requiring a partial amputation – on top of everything else that the family was dealing with – it was decided that it was time to step up.

"What can we do to help them out, is what it comes down to," said Megan Ganga, a longtime friend who did much of the heavy lifting in organizing a fundraiser on Saturday.

"Helping with day-to-day expenses, some medical things are not going to be covered under Medicaid. And the Orrs aren't only good friends of ours, they are good friends of the community. So we thought, 'People throw a fundraiser for everything in this town. Let's give it a shot.'"

Tony Ganga used words like "stoic" and "reserved" to describe Bob, a member of the Sons of the American Legion. Donna, who has been out of work and on worker's compensation since taking a fall at her old job at Dune Management, is a past president of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the post.

"Whatever you ask Donna to do, she's there," Tony said, adding that Orr has helped in the past with an annual blood drive hosted by the Legion and organized by the East Hampton Lions Club and this year, helped get information out about the drive and organized volunteers.

According to Megan, other stresses such as medical issues with the Orr's six-year-old son, C.J., as well as a recently-blown water pump in their home, added to the need to take action for their friends.

Saturday night, the Legion will be hosting a fundraiser to help them out, including a Chinese auction, door prizes, and a 50-50 raffle. East Hampton's Blue Collar Band has signed on to perform live music, and light food will be served and a cash bar will be available as well.

The event will run from 7 to 11 p.m.

"We're absolutely overwhelmed and humbled," said Bob Orr on Friday. "I mean, I've been there and my wife has been there so many times for other people when they needed help and stuff like that. But we never expected to be in the other seat. So it's going to be a really fantastic night."