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By Rosemary Pollock
No brakes on a desire to help
WELLSVILLE, UTAH -- Wellsville resident Cathy Swensen has been
driving a big orange school bus for the Cache County School District
for the past 11 years. Arriving at 6:40 a.m. to pick up the first of
her kids, aged 5 to 18 years old, Swensen finds driving the bus an
opportunity to give service beyond what is expected. Cache County
School District Transportation Supervisor, Wayne Reese said, "You can
tell that she really cares about the students she transports. She's
not one who takes time off. She's very committed to her job and very
capable."
Supervisor Reese reported a time when he had a call from a family
along Swensen's route. Swensen had introduced herself to the new
family that had just moved into the neighborhood and explained the
bus schedule to their children. "I guess it's just how you are
raised," said Swensen, a native of Missoula, Montana. "The people I
work with and the people I live around are also that way, so it's
just easy to be that way."
Swensen is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints and no stranger to service. She has served as the girl's camp
director for nearly two decades in the Providence and Wellsville
Wards. She served as the young women's sports director for 11 years
and has worked with the scouts for six years. "The secret to getting
so much accomplished is staying busy," Swensen explained.
Wellsville resident, Brenda Bunnell said Swensen offered to deliver a
package to her ailing relatives in Idaho. When Swenson was unable to
make the trip, she offered to pay for the shipping. Bunnell declined
and Swenson returned the package along with boxes and boxes of needy
items for the family.
"She brought hundreds of dollars of stuff," Bunnell said. "She opened
up her heart to my sister and did everything for the Christmas dinner
and breakfast." "She is just an amazing woman," Bunnell said.
Cathy and Davie Swenson have five children, ranging in age from 12 to
26. The also have three grandchildren. Davie is a history teacher at
Mountain Crest and coaches wrestling and football. "My husband says
if you don't work or have things to do, it's easy to sit around and
procrastinate. But if you're on a time schedule and know what needs
to be done, you just fit it in and you can."
Source:
No brakes on a desire to help
MSNBC (Logan UT Herald Journal) 5Feb01 P2
By Arrin Brunson
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