Story and photo by Diane Glock-Essinger
Recognize this familiar street corner of Main and College?

If you were out on Tuesday, June 16, you may have noticed two tired and sunburnt young men passing through town. Ryan Ellis and Eric Pujari are walking for Joshua’s Place, a community program out of South Lebanon, Ohio.

So far, they have walked approximately 62 miles and their next stop  – Lima. 

Ryan is from South Lebanon and Eric is from Dayton. They began their journey at the Ohio/Michigan border and are walking to the Ohio River. 

Joshua’s Place is an organization that began as a simple free store/food pantry. Since then, it has grown to more than 200 volunteers serving hundreds of families each month. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Joshua’s Place has fed more than 75,000 people. Ryan and Eric continue their journey to bring awareness to the cause. 

As Fred Rogers once said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”

During this unprecedented time, two helpers happened to pass through our little village.

To donate to the cause,  visit http://www.joshuasplace.cc/donate/.

To follow Ryan and Eric’s journey, visit the Joshua’s Place Facebook page. And, if you happen to see Ryan and Eric as they continue their walk to the Ohio River, be sure to encourage them on.

Fred Rogers would be proud.