“Stuff the Bus” a Success
ProAct in Red Wing’s service project for July-August was to help the United Way gather and distribute school supplies for area children. Participants and staff enjoyed shopping for colors, scissors, notebooks, glue sticks and more.
They then delivered them to the United Way. Area families came to pick out their supplies later in the month. All-in-all the project was a success, said Case Coordinator Gloria Solsaa.
Local fairs are highlight
August always means local county fairs for people in Red Wing. People again enjoyed walking the grounds in Zumbrota at the Goodhue County Fair and then the Pierce County Fair in Ellsworth, Wis.
“It is always fun to see all the animals, taste the good food, and see the exhibits,” said Solsaa. “Some of our participants enter items in the fair so it is always fun to see if they earned any ribbons.”
Tabs for Ronald McDonald, families with sick loved ones
Over the years, ProAct participants have collected pop tabs for Ronald McDonald House.
The children’s charity allows parents who are far from home to stay close to their hospitalized child.
“This summer we delivered what we had to our local McDonald’s,” said Solsaa. “Of course, we had to get ice cream to celebrate.”
Target Field tour
Earlier this summer ProAct toured the Vikings Museum and in August, a group toured Target Field, where the Minnesota Twins play. Their guide showed them around the stadium, the locker room and dugouts. People from ProAct also saw some memorabilia, including a World Series trophy. Staff said people hoped to get another tour soon!
Birds, buds, and bright sun
ProAct’s gardening glasses in Red Wing had the opportunity this summer to check out a local flower farm. One of the owners, Mary Birrittella, gave a tour around gardens of cosmos, zinnias, sunflowers, gladiolas and more at Frontenac Valley Orchard Flower Farm.
This is a new venture for the family that used to run a local apple orchard, said Case Coordinator Gloria Solsaa. They still have a few fruit trees but do not keep the trees up for apple sales. “We walked through the garden and then got to pick three blooms each to take home with us.”
Stockholm pies a sweet treat!
A group enjoyed the Stockholm and the Pie Company so much that they went again! “Those apple pie ‘cookies’ are so tasty and a great treat as we explored the small community,” said Solsaa.
Down at the luau
The Red Wing Elks sponsored and hosted a luau party with ProAct on September 18. There was food, games, music, balloon creations, a photo booth and more.