The Exchange Club of Effingham honored a local husband and wife for their commitment to helping others in the community.

The club presented its Book of Golden Deeds Award to Ernie and Linda Fortson. The Fortsons operate God’s Mission House, a food pantry for families in need in Effingham.

In 2008, God’s Mission House reported providing assistance to 683 families, totaling more than 34,000 pounds of groceries. Those numbers have steadily increased and in 2013 GMH helped 4,029 families by providing 241,266 pounds of groceries.

“The success of this food pantry is due to the many long hours that Ernie and Linda Fortson have volunteered over the years,” said Exchange Club of Effingham president-elect Yvette Carr.

God’s Mission House is located on Highway 119 North, on the campus of First Baptist Church of Springfield.

The Book of Golden Deeds Award is the National Exchange Club’s longest-running project. The award recognizes dedicated volunteers who give hours of their time and talents toward making their communities better places to live.

To learn more about the Exchange Club, call Jimmy Rutland at 655-2952 or Carr at 657-5423, email effinghamexchange@live.com or visit on Facebook at Exchange Club of Effingham County, GA.