Patti Scott is Creswell’s Superstar of the Month ERIN TIERNEY/THE CRESWELL CHRONICLE
Editor’s note: Each month, The Chronicle and our friends at The Flower Basket & Gift Boutique will ask readers to choose someone in the community they feel makes Creswell shine. The Chronicle will then choose a ”superstar” based on those nominations and will surprise one of our local unsung heroes with a special gift.
For July, we’ve gratefully received a handful of submissions of do-gooders, but would like to honor Patricia ”Patti” Scott for her countless hours of volunteerism in the community and for being a rock to her family.
As the Creswell Superstar nominations began rolling in for Scott words like ”selfless,” ”inspiring” and ”unstoppable” were used to describe her. You can find her helping out at the schools, at her church and at the library – pretty much anywhere there is a need.
She’s a force to be reckoned with; Scott’s been in the Creswell community for over 40 years, originally hailing from Buffalo, N.Y. She is an active member of the Kiwanis Club, helps run the Key Club at Creswell High School (CHS) and can regularly be found volunteering for different organizations throughout town.
Scott worked at Creswell School District for 20 years doing a myriad of things. She did laundry, facilitated detentions, took attendance, supervised games and gave rides to students in need. She’s since retired, but that relentless passion to help others in the community has remained unwavered.
”I just want to give back to this community; that’s my heart,” Scott said.
One of her nominators said that during the school year, Scott wakes up early, does her chores and makes her way to the elementary school to help out in the library and read to the students before school. She helps run book fairs, wraps gifts at the school around Christmastime – ”whatever the need is,” Scott said.
She’s been seen around the schools doing yard work, cleaning up flower beds and planting flowers. Scott even spent a day out with a machete cleaning up blackberry bushes along the walking trail between Sixth Street and the CHS recently.
”She really never stops or slows down; it is both inspiring and exhausting to hear about all of the things she is involved with,” one of her nominators said.
With so much hustle and so much energy, you’d think Scott lived off of coffee, but nope. She loves SoBe Water, but thinks it’s too sweet so she waters it down.
”I get all my energy from the Lord,” Patti said. ”He puts me in places; God is my force.”
She also said with a smile that she’s a just bit nosey, which helps to keep her so involved.
Another nominator said that Scott selflessly gives time to volunteer for Creswell Library, where she also serves on the board. She has been actively involved with the planning and fundraising for the library expansion project. She single-handedly ran the Christmas Store, and organized the decorated tree fundraiser and craft fair at the Community Center last winter.
Scott is very active at Creswell Faith Center, where she cleans the church regularly, fundraises for the church and helps organize events. She has also been known to help out at the Creswell Food Pantry.
Scott has four kids, 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, and is very active in their lives.
”Not only has she raised the majority of her grandchildren, but she is consistently providing love and support to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren,” one of her nominators said.
If her family needs anything, if her community needs anything, there is no hesitation.
She has literally given the shirt off her own back to someone.
One day, Scott was at Taco Bell in Cottage Grove when someone came up to her and complimented her shirt. She took it off her back and gave it to them, just like that.
See a need, fill a need. That’s the Patti Scott way.
She stops homeless people on the streets and gives them food, sleeping bags and socks.
One time she was giving blood at a bloodmobile when a homeless person came up to the vehicle, wanting to give blood. He couldn’t do so, but mentioned he was hungry. Without a second thought, Scott went home, fixed them a hot meal and brought it back to him.
”This woman is unstoppable,” one of her nominators said. ”She is an active, and very passionate member of this community. I hope to develop and maintain a work ethic and passion for my community, and people in general, like she has. I know she never asks for a ‘thank you’ or any kind of praise, but I wanted to nominate her because she deserves recognition and so much more.”
Thanks for being you; thanks for all that you do, Patti!
NOMINATE A SUPERSTAR
Creswell Shines is one of The Chronicle’s feel-good monthly features. If you know someone who makes Creswell shine – young or old – make a nomination! Please email the name of your nominee, as well as your reasons why this person is a superstar to Erin Tierney at [email protected]. Help The Chronicle spread happy news and give our local superstars the respect and appreciation they so richly deserve.
