When Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955, who lives in Rivesville, and I (John Olesky, Class of 1950) were children we would watch our mother always provide food for anyone who came to our door and said they were hungry.
She showed us as a role model to do the same in our own ways.
For Jackie, who lives in Rivesville, that means 22 years of providing more than $200,000 worth of Christmas toys and clothes to children whose parents had trouble making ends meet. And much of the same for disadvantaged families every Easter.
Jackie delivers the gift boxes to the Soup Opera, which hands them out to those in need. Each gift-wrapped box from the St. Peter the Fisherman church contains a sweatshirt, gloves, hat and socks.
“I don’t know how we could do it without your help,” Soup Opera leaders tell Jackie.
This Christmas Jackie and her children wrapped 143 gift boxes at $30 apiece for a $4,290 total.
Multiply that by the 22 years Jackie has been doing it and it comes to $94,380. Easter gift baskets cost about the same so that’s more than $200,000 worth of help to those who need it, particularly the children.
Jackie said:
“It’s sad that we have so many people that need help but happy that our parish is very generous. I’m happy to know we have helped to keep folks warmer this winter.”
No wonder Catholic Charities gave Jackie its Salt and Light Award for her decades of charity work. She got the award in 2011, but Jackie keeps earning her Salt and Light status. I’m proud to have her as my only sibling.
I also follow Mom’s advice and help others less fortunate than me, usually one-on-one and through a middle person so that my donations are anonymous. As our mother taught us, it’s not important who gets the credit, only who gets the benefits.
I’m sure Mom is smiling at us when she’s not chatting with Saint Peter in Heaven.
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