Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Silva Honored For Back To School Bonanza
Farmington teacher Mary Jane Silva said she felt undeserving as she looked over the other women selected into the 2017 class of Washington County Women in History.
Silva, who started the Farmington Back to School Bonanza, said this year’s recipients came from all walks of life. One is a longtime educator, another with a long history of political service, another involved in mental health.
“I felt the least deserving of all of them there, to tell you the truth,” Silva said.
However, her volunteer service in leading and coordinating the Back to School Bonanza sponsored by Farmington United Methodist Church has made a difference in the lives of 5,500 children over the past 11 years.
“It really touched my heart when we added up the number of children served,” Silva said. “That’s 14 elementary schools the size of Williams.”
Being involved every year, Silva said she really had not thought about how many children have been helped over the years.
“Wow, it’s amazing how good God is,” she said.
Silva was one of six women inducted into Washington County Women in History during a banquet held March 27 at Mermaids in Fayetteville.
Six agencies sponsor the awards, Altrusa International of Fayetteville, American Association of University Women, Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Fayetteville Busi- ness and Professional Women, Washington County League of Women Voters and Washington County Democratic Women. The agencies have been honoring
outstanding women each year since 1999.
Diane Bryant with American Association of University Women nominated Silva for the honor because of her service with the Bonanza.
“A number of years ago we decided to honor women in our community who are great leaders in an altruistic fashion,” Bryant said.
Bryant volunteers at the Back to School Bonanza and has personally seen how it makes a difference in the lives of children.
“She’s taken that on and been a leader in that program,” Bryant said.
The program for the banquet shared the following about Silva:
“Mary Jane Silva has provided leadership for the Back to School Bonanza program that originated with the Farmington United Methodist Church.
“This program was expanded to all individuals in need after the first year. The Back to School Bonanza provides athletic shoes, socks, underwear, backpacks, haircuts, vision/ dental screens and personal hygiene products to students at the beginning of each school year.
“Mary Jane coordinates over 100 volunteers as well as writes grants to various foundations to help fund this initiative. Her work as a teacher in Farmington has allowed her to mentor many teachers in training as well as the teachers she worked with on a daily basis.”
Troy Conrad, pastor of Farmington UMC, said Silva approaches everything with a servant’s heart.
“This is not just a ministry of the church but is something she believes in and wants to do as well. It is a passion in her heart,” said Conrad, who attended the banquet along with his wife.
Silva said the banquet program was very moving and uplifting to her.
“It was a mountaintop night,” she said.
Each recipient was asked to put up a display of their own lives.
“What do you put up?” Silva said. “A lot was my family and things about the Bonanza.”
She addressed those at the banquet and said she told a little about herself and talked about the Bonanza.
Mostly, she said she was honored and very humbled by the award.
Along with being an active member of Farmington UMC, Silva, a second-grade teacher, has taught for Farmington School District for 19 years. She also taught for four years in Prairie Grove School District.
Others named to the Washington County Women in History, Class of 2017, were former Washington County Judge Marilyn Edwards, Nancy Kahanak, Nancy Mays, Thelma Thomason and Martha Ward. Last year, Billie Yates of Farmington was named a 2016 recipient.