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Colleen holding Garden Volunteer of the Year Award 2010 which was awarded in 20ll.(Photo by Noel Sullivan) |
Hi, I am Colleen's Daughter Noel.... I am so proud of my mother and thought you might like to have this information and photos..... Thank you! Noel Sullivan.
Colleen Patricia Sowa is a member of La Cross, Wisconsin, Flotilla 25. Colleen is disabled, but uses what abilities she has to help others! Colleen is always recruiting new members for the USCG Auxiliary and one of the things she tells people when they say they don't think they would be wanted is: "Listen, I am 59 years old and disabled! If they will accept me.... they will accept you! The Auxiliary looks beyond my disabilities and see all the things I am able to do!"
Colleen is known around La Crosse, Wisconsin as “The Scooter Lady.” She and her grandchildren can be seen riding all over town going on “adventures" together as well as delivering food to those in need of assistance.
Colleen does so much volunteer work in the community... here is some of the work she does: For the USCG Auxiliary she is a vessel examiner, publications officer at the flotilla and division levels and a boat crew member. She is a fund raising volunteer for Easter Seals Wisconsin (Lily Days).
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Colleen Sowa and nephew Scott Sullivan. Both members of La Crosse Flotilla 25. They are at Onalaska Wisconsin Safety Days working in the Auxiliary booth.(Photo by Jim Bertram, USCG AUX) |
Colleen volunteers for the local Kane Street Community Garden. She has written a cookbook and teaches different ways to prepare vegetables. She also prepares food samplings and the distribution of produce, the record keeping and the “Harvest Pot Luck Dinner.”
Colleen sits and attends people who can't leave their homes, so family members can leave and know their loved ones are safe.
She also volunteers for the City of La Crosse: For several years Colleen was secretary of the Handicap Parking Enforcement Assistance Council’ This council deals with handicap parking issues for the city, and inspects and tests all new sidewalks and curb cuts for the disabled. She also answers the phone, sorts, weighs, and records donations to The Hunger Task Force of La Crosse.
"LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (WXOW) - News 19 along with other community sponsors are recognizing members of our community who are making a difference in the lives of others with the Jefferson Awards for public service.
Our first winner is Colleen Sowa, who was nominated by her daughter, Noel, because she says there is nothing her mother won't do for another person.
Among her activities, she volunteers at the Kane Street Community Garden helping re-pot and bag up the harvest. Colleen also teaches volunteers how to prepare those vegetables with unique recipes of her own. She also fills in for people who need a break from taking care of a family member at home. She's also a grandmother helping raise her grandchildren.
We are very proud of Auxiliarist Coleen Sowa.
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Colleen Sowa and nephew Scott Sullivan during boat brew training in 2010. (Photo by Bob Loney, USCG AUX) |
Colleen Sowa and Carol Loney both of the La Crosse flotilla doing a food sampling/teaching session at the Kane Street Community Garden. (Photo by Noel Sullivan) |
Colleen with her grandson Paxton at a community dinner/picnic. (Photo by Noel Sullivan) |
GJA ~ 04/14/12