Historical February 1984 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
She has lived in the Parkview section of Skinker-DeBaliviere for twenty-nine years. Prior to that, while her husband attended law school at Washington University, she lived over a store on Delmar.
Her five boys all graduated from St. Roch’s, where she served as the first female president of the school board five years ago. Today, she hosts a weekly scripture study group in her home and represents St. Roch’s parish on the Catholic Archdiocesan North Deanery Council, where she chairs the Social Ministry Committee. “She is the ‘Boss’,” say her co-workers, Rita and Anne. “Not really,” says Mary, “We’re a team.” Well, since everyone else interviewed for this article seemed to agree that Mary was the “Boss,” we will take her word for it — Mary, Rita, and Anne are a team.
Mary (Mrs. Hiram) Watkins is chairman of the Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council’s Social Welfare Committee.
The committee — composed of representatives of other community institutions and concerned citizens — is responsible to the SDCC Board for identifying resources available throughout the city and linking those resources with SD residents. Rita is Rita (Mrs. Lou) Magyar.
She has lived in the neighborhood for twenty years and has five children. Rita has had a direct impact on the lives of all SD residents, as chairman of the Girl Scout Cookie Drive for the past 25 years. (Note: she also has a four-year-old purebred Boxer to give away.) The third member of the team is Anne (Mrs. John) Morris. Anne knows she has lived here for sixteen years because the oldest of her three children was born during their first year here, and she is now sixteen; her two oldest also attended St. Roch’s, while her youngest is in the 6th grade there. Ann is also volunteer coordinator for the St. Louis Nuclear Freeze Committee. Together — Mary, Rita, and Anne – form “The Team,” the volunteer staff of the Community Action Office opened in March 1983 by the SDCC Social Welfare Committee. Their job is to link people needing help with other neighbors willing to help and with other resources throughout the city. Are you able to cut grass or shovel snow for someone who is infirm or disabled? Are you hungry or unable to pay those rising utility bills? Are you looking for ways to survive in these tough economic times? Are you willing to help a neighbor who has fallen on tough economic times? Do you have a “neighbor-helping-neighbor” idea and want some help to organize it? Call on “The Team” — 862-5122. “The Team” has received training in basic information and referral services, how to fill out applications for energy assistance and circuit breaker tax-credits for senior citizens.
They are available at the SDCC office, 6008 Kingsbury, on Tuesday and Thursday mornings or at other times by appointment.
Mary “The Boss” Watkins sums up the purpose of the Community Action Office in these few words: “No one should go lacking, … especially in a neighborhood as rich in resources and spirit as Skinker-DeBaliviere.” Thanks for the reminder, Boss! And, don’t forget to pass on our gratitude to the other members of “The Team.” Better yet, why don’t you, the reader, call the CAO (862-5122) and offer your help as a “Thank You” to Mary, Rita, and Anne for reminding us what “neighbor” really means here in Skinker-DeBaliviere.
Original photograph caption
CAO volunteers Rita Magyar, Anne Morris, and Mary Watkins (from left to right). Photo by Ed Stout. The Paper, February 1984, page 1.
Originally published in The Paper, February 1984.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1984_02.pdf, printed page(s) 1; PDF page(s) 1.
