Don’t stop the giving

Retired teacher volunteers with churches

A teacher for over 30 years, John Stelnicki keeps busy in part by volunteering at two Elyria churches: St. Mary’s Parish at 320 Middle Ave. as well as St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church at 300 3rd St.

After retiring a little over four years ago, the 68-year-old Elyria resident was drawn to volunteer after seeing the need and to pay it forward in thanks to the kindness he had received in his own life.

“The biggest influence on me was going through my life and receiving kindness when I needed it and had a huge impact,” Stelnicki said.

He began volunteering about three years ago during Lent of 2014 when he was on hand to volunteer with St. Mary’s Parish and their pierogi lunch. His involvement only grew from there and he is now regular presence every week with St. Mary’s hot meal program and the food pantry program at St. Andrew’s.

Stelnicki has met a number of people who have been volunteering for decades and the opportunity to stay involved and to meet interesting people made an impact on him and his desire to get involved. He knew people who were involved in the Helping Hands food pantry program for years, and he recognized the impact of volunteerism and programs that help vulnerable population.

“Seeing people that had done it in various ways drew me to it,” he said.

After starting his teaching career in Niles, Ohio, Stelnicki made his way to Elyria in 1974 where he began teaching at Westwood Junior High School before landing at Elyria High School where he would spend the bulk of his career. After leaving the teaching profession for a short time, he re-entered the field and taught with Cleveland

City Schools before coming back to Elyria.

Stelnicki spent most of his career teaching Spanish, but his repertoire also included a large amount of history and some reading. He said he really enjoyed getting the opportunity to work with young people for all of those years.

Every Tuesday St. Mary’s Parish has a hot meals program and its pierogi lunch. Additionally, at St. Andrews, Stelnicki is involved with the food pantry

program that provides for families in the area in need. He personally picks up donations from their local Costco store and other area businesses with the program that is supported by Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio.

Second Harvest is in the middle of its annual Harvest for Hunger campaign that collects money and food to support programs like the St. Andrew’s food pantry and others like it across Lorain County.

Stelnicki said that businesses in the area donate a lot and often do not receive the credit that they deserve for their work

supporting the community they operate in.

“There is a great need out there for volunteers and I am continually impressed by the amount of people who come out to help and lend a hand,” he said.

When Stelnicki isn’t volunteering he enjoys kayaking, going to the gym and staying active as well as traveling in addition to spending time at the United Polish Club of Elyria.

He also has three daughters and a grandchild spread out around the country stretching from California to Michigan and more that keep him grounded.

Stelnicki