Redmond resident Pat Banner has been named as Save a Forgotten Equine’s July Volunteer of the Month. She was selected for this honor because of her tireless energy and work ethic, her incredible reliability (unless there’s snow!) and her all round cheerfulness.
Pat Banner is an 84-year-old retired elementary school teacher who taught in Puerto Rico and three different states during her career. After retiring, she moved to Washington where she lives with her rescued blue heeler Kiko.
Not one to let the grass grow under her feet, Pat has stayed busy in retirement. In addition to volunteering at SAFE, she currently volunteers with Sara’s Sanctuary, Evergreen Hospital and Evergreen Hospice. Pat said, “I’m not sure how long I’ve been volunteering with SAFE but I remember the birds nesting in the stable last year so it must be about a year.”
Years ago, when Pat lived in South Lake Tahoe she took riding lessons and was able to have a horse of her own named Easter. When she moved to Redmond she gave Easter to “another lady who needed a horse”. Pat said, “I think horses are beautiful and smart and I’m happy to be around them a little and help make their lives more comfortable…I clean stalls and put clean bedding in.”
“I think everyone who volunteers at SAFE is wonderful. They are so friendly, caring, hard-working and dedicated. It’s an honor to be among such an elite group.”
