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Two Civitan shining stars tell of their successes |
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Monday, 22 September 2008 |
Two Saline County women are glowing examples of how Civitan Services of Benton enhances lives of its clients and members of the community.
Betty Coston, 72, of Benton, and Natalie Holliday, 24, of Mabelvale show how clients can progress, said Leigha Jones, community development director for Civitan. They are just two examples, Jones added, noting there are many success stories at Civitan.
Jones and others reflect on these success stories as they prepare to celebrate the organization’s 50th anniversary on Friday and Saturday. The center will be open for tours, Jones said. “This is not some deep, dark secret, we want people to come and look.”
Coston has been a client of the organization since 1992. And she said she’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
Coston keeps a notebook in her sight every day. The binder helps her complete her work duties every day.
“I see that everyone gets their jobs done,” she said. She keeps records of other clients’ duties, such as cleaning the bathrooms or mopping the floors.
Coston said she couldn’t see herself anywhere else. “They wouldn’t do without me,” she said with a smile. “And I’m not gonna retire.”
Through the years, Coston said she’s enjoyed the art classes and learning how to use a computer. In addition to the academics offered by Civitan, Coston has relished the athletic activities.
In fact, she has won the gold medal at the statewide Special Olympics for skills in bocce.
Jones said, “Betty was the first one I met when I first started here.”
She noted she has enjoyed getting to know Coston. “She’s easy to talk to and knows what’s going on here. She’s a hard worker.
Jones added that Coston’s good memory helped her when she first came on board. “She knows everyone’s name and helped me get to know everyone.”
Coston was born in Magnet Cove and lived with her mother for years in Malvern until moving to Benton in the early 1990s because her mother remarried. Now, she lives with her sister and brother-in-law, Ed Merrick, who is a Civitan Services board member.
Coston attends Sharon Missionary Baptist Church.
When she’s not busy perfecting her bocce skills or taking charge of others at Civitan, she said she enjoys playing Uno and Skipbo.
Holliday has been working part-time for about three years in the office of County Collector Chris Villines.
The job has turned her from a shy young women into a talkative, confident women, said Nancy Curtis, who works alongside her in the collector’s office.
“They spoil me rotten here,” Holliday said during one of her morning shifts. She works in the mornings from 8 to 11.
“They give me doughnuts, food and take me to the mall,” she said.
When she’s working, her duties include mail-outs and helping everyone in the office with their tasks. “She’s like everyone’s secretary,” Curtis said.
“She’s a wonderful worker and always in a good mood,” Curtis said. While she gave the compliments, Holliday nodded in agreement.
“I love working here because it keeps me staying busy and gives me something to do,” Holliday said. “It also gives me spending money.”
At Civitan, she’s quick to offer a helping hand, too. She said she takes out the trash and sorts clothes that are set to go to the Civitan Shoppe, a resale store in Bryant.
“I just like to help everybody out,” she said.
At home in Mabelvale with her mother, Janet Holliday, Natalie said she takes care of her two “goofy” dogs.
She uses the term “goof” frequently. Villines, who is often called “Goofy” by Holliday, said if she calls you goofy, it means she likes you.
Holliday also is a Special Olympic star. She’s earned medals in power lifting, basketball and swimming.
Kim Mitchell, who also works with Holliday in Villines’ office, said Holliday is “a real success story. When she first came she was very shy and now she talks and is so confident.”
Villines added: “The first day she came here, I don’t think she spoke a full sentence and now she talks and talks.”
“She’s a super worker,” he said.
Curtis said the office doesn’t know what it would do without Holliday.
Holliday noted she plans to “work here until I retire.”
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