April Jefferson Award: 500 masks and 30 years of service

Southern Minnesotans have been worshipping in Evanger Lutheran Church in the Sargeant Township for the past 134 years. And for the past 30, Cathy Severson has been teaching the congregation’s youth.

As the co-advisor of the church’s 7th through 12th grade Luther League, she strives to instill a sense of community support in the youth but says it seems to come naturally for them.

“You give them an idea and they’re gonna run with it. We’ve done a lot of stuff and I might have instigated some of it but I’ve never done anything alone.”

Some of the stuff they’ve done most recently include making lefse to raise money for a 5-year-old boy in the community who was diagnosed with a disease-causing him to go blind. The Luther League was able to raise 650 dollars for the family and were more than happy to dedicate their day to cooking.

Even in Cathy’s downtime she still finds ways to serve.

She made nearly 500 masks this winter to donate to the St. Mary’s emergency department and the church congregation. Making about three to four masks per hour, that nearly 160 hours!

Cathy has known Therese Manggaard for the past 30 years and even taught her son in Sunday school.

Cathy’s friend Therese Manggaard says that she is a true example for the youth and adults alike.

“She’s someone everyone should look up to and try to be like.”

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