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I Support
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Name:
Diane M. Cox
Home:
Santa Rosa, Calif.
Birthplace:
Orange, N.J.
Age:
80
What I do:
Currently I am volunteering at Te Living Room, our
church’s daytime shelter for homeless and at-risk women and their
children. I am a Tuesday cook—that’s when we prepare a light breakfast
and a substantial lunch for 50 to 75 women and children using mostly
foods available from the local food bank and community garden. Next
time you go to the grocery store, look in the food donation barrels and
see if you could fgure a menu for 50 from there. It’s a real challenge!
Latest or greatest accomplishment:
In the efort to fnd volunteer
opportunities for our church parishioners, in 2000 I started the afliate,
Rebuilding Together Santa Rosa, and served as executive director until
2009. Rebuilding Together is a nationwide nonproft whose volunteers
repair homes for those who are unable to do so. Most likely they are
elderly, disabled or families with small children. Many are veterans.
It enables these people to continue to live in the warmth, safety and
comfort of their own homes, and volunteers gain an “ownership” in
their city. I retired recently, telling them I really needed to go back to
the barn with the feedbag over my ears. I have wonderful memories
of the homeowners we have been able to help as well as the volunteer
construction workers who make these repairs happen and all the other
people involved. It was a defning moment in my life.
My dream:
Tat I continue to live in good health as long as possible.
If not, that I have the grace and understanding to live within my
capabilities. I believe so strongly that physical activity is what keeps the
body and soul together.
A person I admire:
I particularly admire my sister-in-law, who gave me
a gift for my 80th birthday, which I in turn gave to RTC in her name.
She received her Ph.D. at the age of 80 and has been a participant in the
Senior Olympics for many years.
Recent rail-trail experience:
I did an Elderhostel bike trip on the Root
River State Trail in Minnesota with my favorite biking friends. Te
Scandinavians and Germans who settled the area were apparently prone
to squabbling, but the principle town in the area was named Harmony.
Why I support Rails-to-Trails Conservancy:
I’ve been an enthusiastic
donor to RTC for 16 years. I suspect it started when we rode mopeds on
a railbed in Bermuda that goes from one end of the island to the other,
more or less. I’ve since been on the Minuteman Bikeway in Lexington,
Mass., the Iron Horse Trail here in California, and many others. I look
wistfully at old railbeds, hoping they will be developed into trails before
commercial interests prevail. Tat’s why I donate to RTC every year.
Giving a gift membership to Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is a great
way to share your love of trails with friends and family. This
holiday season, consider the rail-trail gift that keeps on giving!
To learn more about gift memberships, call 202.331.9696 or visit
www.railstotrails.org.
John Lee
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