On Friday, April 18 Winona area college students worked together to Spruce Up Winona, despite the heavy rains that pounded the area throughout the afternoon. Cleaning neighborhoods, restoring communities, uniting for a cause, explains this year’s mission. Students picked up trash in neighborhoods and downtown Winona, at the airport and Latsch Island, worked with Habitat for Humanity, and worked in flood damaged areas in Stockton and Minnesota City. While some assignments had to be cancelled, many students were able to carry out their plans to make a difference.
Professor Tammy Swenson Lepper and I want to thank all of those students, faculty, and staff members who contributed their time and talents to this project. In addition, we want to thank Katie LaPlant from St. Mary’s University, Gale Lanning from Minnesota State College Southeast Technical for their partnership, as well as Kathy Foerster from Elder Network, Jennifer Koth from Habitat for Humanity, and Marie Plaskett from the American Red Cross, and Natasha Thomas from SEMCAC/Headstart for their assistance in placing students at community worksites.
Winona State University students Amanda Kaufman and Annie Stadstad did a superb job of coordinating flood relief efforts.
Many thanks to Kevin Brady and Kent Grover, co-chairs of the Winona Housing Association, for their generous contributions of refreshments for the volunteers and support for this annual event. St. Mary’s University and Minnesota State College Southeast Technical also contributed refreshments for the workers. Likewise, Cherie Peterson from the Downtown Business Cooperative deserves our thanks for her assistance for the downtown cleanup.
Winona area college students are important assets to the Winona community. Their actions on Friday afternoon deserve to be recognized!