Mary Brown, is the force of nature behind the school garden at Glide Elementary School. Coming soon – a fruit orchard, thanks to grants she’s gotten from local and national organizations. Kids can participate outside class time through a twice-monthly garden club she started and noon recess work sessions, staffed by volunteers she recruited. From salad parties to decorate-a-squash contests, she has excited and involved the students in the garden, teaching them not only science, but also nutrition, discipline, stewardship, and hard work.

 Eva Chasteen, is also known as The Recycle Lady. Back in 2007 she began Glide schools’ recycling program. She placed and regularly empties the outdoor green recycle barrels on the playground and the indoor blue paper recycle boxes. Teams of kids collect everything recyclable from classrooms and bring them to the recycle shed. Ink cartridges also get recycled, earning refund money for the district. This is the seventh year in a row she’s put in 4 to 15 hours a week on recycling.

Pam Maurice, Glide’s high school principal, goes way above and beyond her paid responsibilities to support the community’s youth. She is the students’ biggest fan, showing up at every sporting event, play, concert, or fund-raiser. Often she does grunge work behind the scenes, like washing dishes. She’s been known to drive to her office on a non-school day to write a letter of recommendation needed ASAP. She guides students into leadership positions in service projects, like the recent project hand-sewing pillow cases for children with cancer at OHSU.

Abe and Kelli Long – Every month this couple prepares a free dinner for the entire community through Grateful Bread.  Hundreds of people turn out for their tasty offerings. They plan, shop, prep, cook, and clean up. If people can’t make it to the dinner, they take food to them. They’ve also allowed high school students to help serve the meal, giving these young people a chance to participate in service in action.

Helen and Donal Scott – also are in the business of feeding this community. They put on a free community dinner every Christmas. In addition, they both spend long hours working at the senior lunches. In their spare time, they are busy with countless projects around the community club and both of them serve on its board.

Tedy Fromdahl was kindergarten teacher for many years of Glide children, and since her retirement she has continued to work for our youth. Since 2010 she has spearheaded Thriving Waters, a non-profit Glide organization promoting culture, education and beauty in our community. Their children’s art program has reached over 300 Glide students. Keep watching for the community mural Thriving Waters is creating on the side of Colliding Rivers Drive-in.

Arlene Quimby really cares for our community’s children. For years she has helped organize children’s parties at Halloween and Christmas at the community club. This past year about 75 children carved pumpkins and played games at the Halloween party and made ornaments and spoke to Santa at the Christmas party. She plans, decorates, bakes, runs the event, and cleans up afterwards. She also donates many hours baking and decorating for FFA bake sales, the seniors tea, and other community fund raisers and events.