15 FASCINATING FACES OF THE YEAR | Mary Garcia of Oswego & Aurora

by Kristen Kucharski

FEATURING RESIDENTS WHO INSPIRE THE COMMUNITY IN THEIR OWN UNIQUE WAY

Each year Glancer Magazine features a distinct group of residents who are doing extraordinary things, making a difference in the lives of others by giving them hope, guidance or inspiration. Each is so talented and has persevered through all that COVID-19 has presented this past year. Their stories will touch your heart and awaken your spirit. Here are Glancer Magazine's 15 Fascinating Faces of 2020.

Mary Garcia

OSWEGO/AURORA–Mary is a United States Navy Veteran and a part time dental hygienist. She loves to sing karaoke and spend time outdoors with her husband and five children. She is also the President of My Daughter's Dress Boutique in Aurora, a non-for-profit organization providing free formalwear to financially qualified customers because she believes no one should miss a special occasion because they can’t afford it.

She lives by the words of Dolly Parton, "If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain;” which are the very words that got her through the rioting and vandalism that erupted mid-2020 and damaged her store.

Seeing the glass shattered all over the sidewalk and witnessing the community boarding up her windows with messages of hope while watching a city come together as a whole brought a tremendous amount of relief and much needed optimism to a year that has proven almost impossible to keep her doors open.

Giving up means letting someone else down - and she won't allow herself to do that!

Photos by Mike Catuara

15 FASCINATING FACES OF 2020

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