Sometimes you feel proud that you’re #2 in the family.

As when my sister, Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1950, who lives in Rivesville, is shoulders deep in her plethora of charity work.

Jackie is outreach coordinator for Fairmont’s St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church. That means she keeps busy helping others who are less fortunate, whether it’s Easter or Christmas or at the Soup Opera.

In 2014 my friend, Fairmont Times editor emeritus John Veasey, wrote about Jackie and her cohorts putting together 80 gift-wrapped packages of sweatshirts, socks, gloves and hat that they delivered to the Soup Opera to give to those in need for Christmas. Well, this year Jackie and the gang out-did themselves. They came up with 112 wrapped sweatshirts, socks, gloves and hat.

Let Jackie explain:

“John, our church just concluded our Operation Sweatshirt drive. 

“Parishioners brought in giftwrapped packages that contained a sweatshirt, socks, gloves and a hat.  With the wrapped gifts donated and the cash donated, Jackie, Belinda and Renee shopped for more items. 

“We delivered 112 wrapped gifts from St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church to the Soup Opera. 

“They will hand out these gifts Christmas week. 

“In the 17 years I've been coordinating this project, we have donated more than 1,800 gifts. 

“I thought I was going to travel shotgun but Belinda found a space for me in  the car & a huge box on my lap.  We dodged a few boxes that came over our shoulders but all arrived safely at the Soup Opera! 

“It is a warm fuzzy feeling to know that our neighbors will be warm in the cold weather ahead.

“See you at the football game Saturday. 

“Love, Jackie”

For me, it is a warm and fuzzy feeling to know that I have a sister like Jackie, who has a proud brother in Tallmadge, Ohio (John Olesky, Class of 1950), who is honored to come in second when it comes to charity work. It’s not that I’m a shirker; it’s just that Jackie is a much harder worker, giving of her time and efforts.

It seems like a decade since Jackie received her Catholic Charities’ Salt and Light Award. She hasn’t rested on her laurels.

Jackie directs preparation of the Easter baskets for disadvantaged children for her Fairmont church.

When Jackie got her Salt and Light Award, she said that our mother, Lena Futten Olesky, who never let anyone begging for food leave our house with an empty stomach, was her role model.

Well, Jackie, YOU are my role model.