Making an investment in the country’s future

    It is often taken for granted how much value basic necessities have — things like food, water and clothing. And it is often overlooked that some have been more fortunate than others with having such basic needs met.

    But such realizations have not been lost on Marcie Olson-Rich, a financial advisor for Edward Jones in Pontiac. For the fifth consecutive year, she is reaching out to clients and the community at-large for philanthropic donations for elementary school students in the form of not only supplies, but also vital things like extra clothing in the winter months.

    “I got into this because we saw a need,” she said in a Tuesday interview. “I’m very grateful; I have very generous and caring clients, and I’m very lucky to have them. They’ve always stepped to the plate. Even people who aren’t clients donate, too. They don’t do business here, so that’s just wonderful.”

    The letter her office sent out via email says, “We are asking all citizens and business owners of Pontiac to donate school supplies. These donations can add value to the school system as one more student will be provided the appropriate tools to begin or continue his or her learning and development.”

    Olson-Rich sees such “appropriate tools” as more than pens, pencils, paper and crayons, however; she said she hoped to see the community give even more essentials, things one wouldn’t normally consider when thinking of a productive learning environment.

    “I don’t want to see kids without things like a pair of gloves, or a pair of socks that don’t have holes in them, or Clorox wipes for teachers in classrooms,” she said. “The teachers have to buy stuff like that themselves. A clean environment and a safe environment in schools is very, very important.

    “It’s nice, too, that when we donate these things, they go to a central supply closet at the different schools. Teachers can go in there and grab something if a kid needs it, but is too embarrassed to ask, and the teacher can slip it to a kid and no one’s the wiser — the kid won’t be embarrassed.”

    The schools she has on her list include Lincoln, Washington and Central grade schools in Pontiac, as well the elementary school in Saunemin. She hopes to add Odell’s grade school to her benevolent roster in the near future if she receives enough donations.

    Ultimately, Olson-Rich sees herself perfectly situated to give back both because of her success as an adult, as well as her own personal experience with poverty growing up as a child.

    “It’s a way I can give back to the community,” she said. “If I can help out in some way because I’ve been blessed with a good career and a good life in my adulthood, so I’d like to share that a little bit.

    “I don’t want to kids to go without. I grew up poor, so I know what it’s like to go without … my mom struggled to buy that stuff for me and my brother, so if I can help ease the pain for a parent or a teacher, I’m happy to do it. It gives me joy.”

    Olson-Rich’s Edward Jones office, where she collects donations, is located at 110 N. Ladd St. for those interested in giving joy to not only her, but needy young children in area schools.