Rock Springs Main Street/Urban Renewal Agency Recognizes Donna Toly as June Volunteer of the Month

Rock Springs Main Street/Urban Renewal Agency (URA) is proud to recognize Donna Toly as its June Volunteer of the Month for her outstanding leadership, creativity, and dedication to enhancing Downtown Rock Springs.

Donna has played a key role in bringing an exciting new public art project to life that will soon be unveiled in Downtown Rock Springs. What began as a simple idea has grown into a true community collaboration thanks to Donna's vision and countless hours of volunteer service.

After discovering a display of barn quilt blocks while riding the Mickelson Trail in Custer, South Dakota, in 2021, Donna envisioned creating a similar project in Rock Springs. She presented the idea to the URA, and together that vision has become a reality.

Donna coordinated every aspect of the project, recruiting and organizing more than 20 local quilters, coordinating volunteers, managing logistics, gathering supplies, scheduling work sessions, and even arranging lunches for the volunteers during production days. Her leadership transformed an ambitious idea into a community-wide effort celebrating local creativity and collaboration.

The colorful quilt blocks, created by members of the Sweetwater County Quilt Guild, Donna's quilting friends, and other dedicated community volunteers, will soon be installed in Downtown Rock Springs. The project celebrates the rich tradition of quilting while creating a unique public art experience that residents and visitors alike will enjoy for years to come.

A retired Home Economics teacher from White Mountain Junior High School, Donna has long shared her passion for sewing and quilting with others. Today, she spends much of her time creating beautiful quilts, many of which are donated to charities across Wyoming. She especially enjoys transforming fabric scraps into meaningful quilts that provide comfort, warmth, and hope to those in need.

Donna's volunteerism extends beyond the barn quilt project. Last year, she also volunteered her time to help organize and support Downtown Rock Springs' inaugural Cookie Crawl, contributing to another successful community event. A few year's ago, she and her quilting friends also created a snowman for the Snowman Stroll! 

"Donna's enthusiasm and ability to bring people together have made a lasting impact on Downtown Rock Springs," said Maria Mortensen, chairwoman of Rock Springs Main Street/Urban Renewal Agency. "She didn't just have a great idea—she rolled up her sleeves, recruited an incredible team of volunteers, and saw the project through from concept to completion. Her leadership has created something that will be enjoyed by our community for many years."

The Volunteer of the Month program recognizes individuals who generously donate their time, talents, and passion to strengthen Downtown Rock Springs and help make it a vibrant place to live, work, and visit.

The URA extends its sincere appreciation to Donna for her dedication and congratulates her on being named the June Volunteer of the Month.