JACKIE OLESKY STRAIGHT, DECADES LATER, STILL AN ANGEL TO THOSE WHO NEED HELP
BOTTOM PHOTO: JACKIE IN GREEN DRESS WITH, LEFT TO RIGHT, DAUGHTERS, LEA ANN, BELINDA AND RENEE AND JACKIE'S BROTHER, JOHN, AND, BEHIND THEM JACKIE'S GRANDSONS
JACKIE OLESKY STRAIGHT AND DAUGHTER BELINDA STRAIGHT MORRIS WITH PACKAGES FOR UNION MISSION
Jackie Olesky Straight still being an
angel on Earth for those in need
Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955,
who lives in Rivesville, has been providing food, clothing and toys for
families and children for more than two decades.
Her daughter, Belinda Straight Morris,
as usual, helps with the lifting.
Mom and daughter have been doing this
for 24 years. The latest helping hands on their part with Jackie as outreach coordinator
of Fairmont’s St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church delivered 50 Easter
baskets that benefits the residents of the Fairmont Union Mission.
Jackie raised $1,500 to help others who
need the items.
My sister, Jackie is the widow of Dave
Straight and lives in Rivesville.
Jackie is outreach coordinator for
Fairmont’s St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church, which this Easter
meant providing Easter baskets and clothing for those who need them.
The baskets are filled with hygenetic
products like socks, handkerchiefs, chapsticks; Debbie cakes, crackers and
Easter candy.
The children's baskets also included
toys, sunglasses, stuffed animals and clothes.
Jackie also oversees fundraising and
purchases to plunk goodies in the Operation Sweatshirt Drive for the Fairmont
Soup Opera, which also feeds hungry people.
In two decades, Jackie has provided about
2,000 gifts to the Soup Opera.
“I
don’t know how we could do it without your help,” Soup Opera leaders tell Jackie.
One Christmas Jackie and her children, mainly Belinda, wrapped
143 gift boxes that cost $30 apiece.
Jackie’s
response: “It is a warm, fuzzy feeling to know our neighbors are warmer because
we care.”
When I
tell Jackie how proud I am of her for doing so much for others which North
Central West Virginia Catholic Charities was so impressed with that they gave
Jackie the coveted and well-eared Salt & Light Award, she brushes it off
with:
“We enjoy knowing people will have a
little more love from people who do not know them personally.”
Jackie got that from our mother, Lena
Futten Olesky, who came from Italy to America as children with her brother, Si
Futten, for decades one of Fairmont’s favorite bargers, and her sister, Gezala Futten
Loss, who shared a 100-acre farm in Mill Fall with her husband, Frank Loss.
Mom, Aunt Gezala and Uncle Si have
passed away, but Mom’s penchant for never turning anyone away when they knocked
on our Church Street door and asked for food became a role model for Jackie and
me.
I don’t anywhere close to what Jackie
does but I have spent thousands of dollars through intermediaries to help
Monongah and Monongah High alumni in need because fire or other unfortunate
events.
And insist that the person who
benefits is not told who did it because, as Mom taught us, it’s not important
who gets the credit, just who gets the benefits.
Jackie
doesn’t just help humans. She takes care of birds, too. “I feed more than 300 pounds of sunflower seeds and suet each winter,” she
said. “I’m rewarded by watching them eat and interact with other birds.”
Somewhere in Heaven our mother must be
beaming every time she sees Jackie, with Belinda’s help, provide comfort,
clothing, food and toys to families who can’t afford them.
Comments
Post a Comment