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Editorial & Commercial Photographer
Anita Hajivandi doesn't warm up easily to the attention she receives for her good deeds in the community of Rutland, Ohio, and the surrounding towns in the Appalachian foothills. A devout church-goer, her faith and humble roots in the same region drove her and her husband, Mo, to start a restaurant out of their home's kitchen, where a menu listing courses inspired by her upbringing helped keep her in touch with her childhood and the local resources. With the COVID Pandemic having shut down the operation, Hajivandi continues to give back and help feed the community with the local food drive at her church.
Anita Hajivandi sits on the porch of her home in Rutland, Ohio, where her designated church, River of Life, is just down the street.
Hajivandi preps the ingredients with her daughter, Faith, to make the traditional Appalachian breakfast she and her father ate in her upbringing.
Hajivandi peels an apple in preparation for a recipe to cook.
Hajivandi walks into the church basement where food donations are prepared for visitors at the River of Life church.
Hajivandi tracks assets with her daughter, Faith, in the church basement during a food drive at River of Life Church in Rutland, Ohio.
Hajivandi cooks coffee-fried pork with her cast iron skillet in the kitchen basement of her church in Rutland, Ohio.
Hajivandi squeezes between volunteers helping at the food drive operated out of the River of Life Church in Rutland, Ohio.
Hajivandi tracks the quantity of donations remaining at the food drive held at the River of Life Church in Rutland, Ohio.
Hajivandi spoons sorghum and pork grease left over in the skillet on top of handmade biscuits.
Hajivandi sings in unison with fellow church-goers during mass at the River of Life Church following her work at the food drive.
Hajivandi demonstrates the method her father taught to cool down hot coffee––pour into the saucer, back into the cup, and repeat.
A plate complete with sausage gravy, fried eggs, fried apples, coffee-fried pork, and accompanying biscuits make the traditional breakfast she and her father would eat before he would work in the coal mines of Southeast Ohio.
Anita Hajivandi sits on the porch of her home in Rutland, Ohio, where her designated church, River of Life, is just down the street.
Hajivandi preps the ingredients with her daughter, Faith, to make the traditional Appalachian breakfast she and her father ate in her upbringing.
Hajivandi peels an apple in preparation for a recipe to cook.
Hajivandi walks into the church basement where food donations are prepared for visitors at the River of Life church.
Hajivandi tracks assets with her daughter, Faith, in the church basement during a food drive at River of Life Church in Rutland, Ohio.
Hajivandi cooks coffee-fried pork with her cast iron skillet in the kitchen basement of her church in Rutland, Ohio.
Hajivandi squeezes between volunteers helping at the food drive operated out of the River of Life Church in Rutland, Ohio.
Hajivandi tracks the quantity of donations remaining at the food drive held at the River of Life Church in Rutland, Ohio.
Hajivandi spoons sorghum and pork grease left over in the skillet on top of handmade biscuits.
Hajivandi sings in unison with fellow church-goers during mass at the River of Life Church following her work at the food drive.
Hajivandi demonstrates the method her father taught to cool down hot coffee––pour into the saucer, back into the cup, and repeat.
A plate complete with sausage gravy, fried eggs, fried apples, coffee-fried pork, and accompanying biscuits make the traditional breakfast she and her father would eat before he would work in the coal mines of Southeast Ohio.
Anita Hajivandi sits on the porch of her home in Rutland, Ohio, where her designated church, River of Life, is just down the street.
Hajivandi preps the ingredients with her daughter, Faith, to make the traditional Appalachian breakfast she and her father ate in her upbringing.
Hajivandi peels an apple in preparation for a recipe to cook.
Hajivandi walks into the church basement where food donations are prepared for visitors at the River of Life church.
Hajivandi tracks assets with her daughter, Faith, in the church basement during a food drive at River of Life Church in Rutland, Ohio.
Hajivandi cooks coffee-fried pork with her cast iron skillet in the kitchen basement of her church in Rutland, Ohio.
Hajivandi squeezes between volunteers helping at the food drive operated out of the River of Life Church in Rutland, Ohio.
Hajivandi tracks the quantity of donations remaining at the food drive held at the River of Life Church in Rutland, Ohio.
Hajivandi spoons sorghum and pork grease left over in the skillet on top of handmade biscuits.
Hajivandi sings in unison with fellow church-goers during mass at the River of Life Church following her work at the food drive.
Hajivandi demonstrates the method her father taught to cool down hot coffee––pour into the saucer, back into the cup, and repeat.
A plate complete with sausage gravy, fried eggs, fried apples, coffee-fried pork, and accompanying biscuits make the traditional breakfast she and her father would eat before he would work in the coal mines of Southeast Ohio.
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