Every spring in the Schaffer household about two dozen plastic milk containers are saved–not for recycling, but to help water the flower beds that make Rossford so beautiful each summer.

Kathy Schaffer has been watering several flower beds around town for about a decade, often several times a week.

She and her cousin, Kris Cuprys, are valuable members of the Rossford Beautification Committee–a group of volunteers who plant, mulch, water and weed flower beds for the public to enjoy.

The two began volunteering with the RBC from the group’s beginning in 2012, concentrating on the giant “R” in front of city hall and Edward Ford Memorial Park.

They now care for several flower beds at the corner of Maple and Superior streets.

“Kris and I like to take care of these beds, because they were part of my son’s Boy Scout Eagle project, where he re-landscaped this entire block with new plants,” Mrs. Schaffer said.

Through the adopt-a-bed program, RBC members and volunteers are responsible for planting and maintenance of flower beds throughout the year.

Mrs. Schaffer and Mrs. Cuprys still share responsibility for those original flower beds, featuring a mixture of annuals and perennials with the knockout roses at the corner of Superior and Maple streets growing bigger and better every year.

Like those roses, the RBC has grown bigger and better every year, and its volunteers have truly made a difference.

As lifelong residents of Rossford, the two women enjoy gardening at home and working together on their RBC flower beds.

“Both of our moms were great gardeners, and this is our way of continuing that family tradition while brightening up the city,” Mrs. Schaffer explained. “Some of the perennials in here are originally from my mom’s gardens. So that makes me happy.”

Mrs. Cuprys, a former downtown business owner, has always taken pride in her city and enjoys volunteering her time to help Rossford flourish.

“Flowers make everything better,” she noted. “I joined the RBC to help Rossford look its best and, as a group, I think we are doing that.”

She has cared for the flower beds at the two city entrances on Dixie Highway since 2012. She also maintains the flower bed at the Edward Ford Memorial Park sign, which was her youngest son’s Eagle project in 2015.

Both women appreciate recent efforts by the city to help with watering, and they would like to see the RBC grow and attract new members.

“When I see the beautiful hanging flower baskets in other cities, I think the only thing that is stopping us from doing the same thing here is finding a way to consistently water them and the other beds that we already have,” Mrs. Schaffer said.

“We have a great group of volunteers, but we could do so much more with some more help–and some more water.”

Anyone interested in learning more about adopting a bed or joining the RBC, may call 419-386-6426.