HAVE THE TIME OR ENERGY TO VOLUNTEER, YOU MEET HAROLD SAUTER. HE IS 85 YEARS OLD, A RETIRED AIR FORCE VET AND A RETIRED COACH WHO JUST CANNOT STOP WESH 2’S MICHELLE MEREDITH INTRODUCES US TO THE SUPERSTAR VOLUNTEER AT SECOND HARVEST. AT SECOND HARVEST, SURROUNDED BY THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF FOOD, IS A VOLUNTEER BY THE NAME OF HAROLD SAUTER, PART SUPERVISOR, PART COMEDIAN. AND EVERYBODY. AND FULL TIME HARD WORKER. YOU IMPRESS US. OH, GOOD. I’VE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH. RIGHT. TIME FOR ME TO IMPRESS SOMEBODY. TELL MY WIFE THAT, THOUGH, WILL YOU? KNOWN AS COACH. HE’S 85 YEARS OLD AND COULD BE LOUNGING IN HIS EASY CHAIR. BUT THAT’S NOT THE RETIRED AIR FORCE VET STYLE. SAID, YOU KNOW, I’M NOT JUST GOING TO GO SIT SOMEWHERE, YOU KNOW, AND DRINK BEER OR I’M NOT GOING TO GO TAKE CRUISES EVERYWHERE. I’M GOING TO GO TRY TO HELP PEOPLE. NOW THEY CALL HIM COACH BECAUSE BACK IN THE DAY, HE COACHED WOMEN’S SOFTBALL AND SOCCER AT A COLLEGE IN MASSACHUSETTS, AND MORE RECENTLY HERE IN FLORIDA AT CELEBRATION HIGH, COACH CAME TO SECOND HARVEST ALONG WITH HIS WIFE, LORNA. DURING THE PANDEMIC, WHEN ALL THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THEY VOLUNTEERED WITH HAD CLOSED AND STILL INSPIRED BY THE WORDS OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY, WHEN COACH WAS A JUNIOR IN COLLEGE, 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. WHAT HE SAID AND COACHES STUCK ON VOLUNTEERING AT SECOND HARVEST COMES IN EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, HAS LOGGED OVER 1300 HOURS AND IS CONSIDERED THE SUPERMAN OF FELLOW VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF MEMBERS ALIKE. IT’S PHYSICAL WORK, RIGHT? LIKE YOU’RE STANDING FOR THREE FOUR HOURS AT A TIME, YOU’RE MOVING BOXES, YOU’RE MOVING PALLETS. HE’S DOING ALL OF THAT TWICE A WEEK, AND HE’S LORNA’S SUPERMAN. BUT THEY HAVE BEEN MARRIED 57 YEARS. ON A SCALE FROM 1 TO 10, WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR HUSBAND PROBABLY A NINE. ALWAYS ROOM TO IMPROVE. YEAH. I DON’T GET VERY FEW PEOPLE A TEN, BUT COACH IS A TEN BY ANY STANDARD. PAYING IT FORWARD WITH STYLE, GRACE AND WISDOM. WELL EARNED. CO
85-year-old veteran volunteers tirelessly at Second Harvest in Orlando
Updated: 11:00 PM EST Nov 28, 2025
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.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
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.