The Mildred Hagedorn Award is awarded each year by the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy to one person chosen from nominees from all the area Presbyterian Congregations. This person must be an active member of the church and the community. He/she must be a role model and involved in intergenerational activities and volunteer services. Bonhomme’s nomination for this year’s award is Carolyn Hardy Steffen.

Carolyn Hardy was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She earned her BS degree in Education from Greenville College in Illinois. After graduation she worked as a teacher for three years. Carolyn married John Steffen on January 31, 1958. They recently celebrated their 50th anniversary. They have twin daughters, Nancy and Mary, and three sons, John, Will and James. They are also the proud grandparents of eleven. An interesting volunteer activity of both John and Carolyn occurred early in their marriage, when they acted together as tornado spotters for the National Weather Bureau. (Way before Doppler radar)

While her children were growing up, Carolyn volunteered at the children’s schools in the nurse’s office and the library. She also led a Brownie troop and was a Girl Scout organizer. Because of her dedicated interest in young people and education, she volunteered for the RIF Program (Reading is Fundamental) and also distributed books for the program. Currently Carolyn volunteers as a Friday Reader for the Freedom School in University City, where she reads and listens to students, Pre K through 4th grade.

The Steffens have been members of Bonhomme Presbyterian Church for 18 years. For the past ten years Carolyn has been a Sunday school teacher for two year old children. She also works with crafts for this group. She is a longtime member of the Congregational Care Ministry where she is in charge of the casserole ministry and has prepared many meals for our ill or homebound members. Every year at Bonhomme, Carolyn participates in these Christian Education Ministry programs; Easter Egg Hunt, Breakfast in Bethlehem and Vacation Bible school.

Carolyn is also a long time member of Bonhomme Presbyterian Women, Circle 6. This is entirely a “service circle” Each year she participates in the Christmas Giving Tree which provides gifts to Presbyterian Children’s Society, Haven of Grace and foster care children in St. Louis County; and the Easter Basket program, which provides Easter baskets to the Salvation Army, Circle of Concern, a St. Louis city nursery school and Bonhomme members who are home bound and in care facilities. As a member of Circle 6, Carolyn participates in the Salvation Army Prisoner Christmas Wrap for children and families of incarcerated persons in Illinois and Missouri.

For five years she helped out at the Salvation Army in the preparation of food at their homeless shelter. She is an excellent cook and has occasionally helped, along with her sister, to prepare dinners for homeless women at Grace and Peace church. Along with other members of Circle 6, Carolyn for many years planned Bonhomme Wednesday night church dinners, bought food and participated in cooking the meals. She also did this for BPW luncheons each month and for other church functions.

Carolyn is currently a twice a month Red Cross platelet donor and is a participant in a study for a medical research group at Washington University.

Carolyn’s remark is, “I do it for God and His people.” And she does, over and over again! She is also an evangelist and an ambassador of the faith. We are so proud to nominate Carolyn Steffen for the Mildred Hagerdorn Award.