COA honors helpers

The Colfax Council on Aging and Human Services (COA) May 23 held an appreciation dinner to honor the service of more than 50 volunteers in attendance.

“We have a wide variety of volunteers and they put in a lot of hours,” said COA executive director Paige Collins. “We just wanted to gather them all once a year to really, simply tell them ‘thank you.’”

Breaking from years past, event organizers decided not to book live entertainment for the dinner, taking feedback from attendees saying they wanted nothing more than “a nice dinner and to visit with friends.”

A picnic-themed feast was provided by two COA staff members who spent more than a day and a half preparing pulled-pork sandwiches and salads. The LaCrosse Cafe´ also supplied a number of pies for dessert.

In total, more than 70 meals were provided free of charge to COA volunteers who provide transportation services, cook at food pantries and do other services across Whitman County.

“The day was just perfect,” Collins said.