Community Champion: Louise Prince

It’s time to recognize a Community Champion, an honor given to people making a positive impact in the community in partnership with Leaders Credit Union. We introduce you to a woman who is helping her community by upkeeping a center that serves as a gathering place for making memories.

More than six decades ago, the town of Gibson bought about three acres of land and built a modest community center using volunteers, donations, and lots of determination.

Louise Prince says her neighbors and friends Lois and Roger Hinch took care of the center, and several years ago Lois asked for a big favor.

“I was helping her and she began to get dementia and in ill health, and one day she asked me if I would take care of the building for her. And I agreed that I would take care of it as long as she lived if I could get a helper. So she agreed to that and I asked Betty here if she would help me with the building, and we’ve been taking care of it ever since,” said Prince.

Prince says the center serves as a gathering place for residents to celebrate life’s important moments and milestones.

“We have lots of activities here. We have it rented several times during the month, we have birthday parties, anniversaries, reunions– family reunions are a big thing,” said Prince.

Prince says she, along with her friend Betty Pafford, do what they can to keep the center running, adding multiple improvements over the years including new blinds, tables, countertops, a roof, new bathrooms, lighting, paint and so much more.

“We do keep it clean the best we can and see to it that the yard is mowed and kept. Take care of paying the bills for it. And that’s where the money goes that we rent it. It goes into the fund to take care of the expenses for the building,” said Prince.

They also hold a monthly event that helps with the funding.

“We have an auction once a month, the first Thursday night of each month. We have an auction here with an auctioneer and the proceeds that we get from the sale of concessions, we have a concession stand, the proceeds of that goes into the account also,” said Prince.

Prince shares what motivates her to keep going with the community center.

“I think it’s important that you have places that people can go and enjoy things and I think that’s one thing that inspires me to keep doing what I do,” said Prince.

If you know someone doing good in their community, you can nominate them for the Community Champion award by clicking here.

For more local news, click here.