By Deb Kroon
Review Staff Writer
Bruce Olson has driven school bus for the Adrian School District for the past twenty years. He retired from driving at Christmas break this past December. He also taught Special Education in the Ellsworth School system for eight years, retiring in 1998.
Leading up to his retirement, Bruce and his wife Barb began to think of ways they could make a difference for students at both schools. Bruce approached the school administrations with an idea to launch a program in which interested individuals could donate to the school lunch programs to assist families who have trouble paying for school breakfast or lunch. The Olson’s concern was motivated by the fact that research showed that students who miss breakfast or lunch do not do as well in school. “We saw a need and the best way to help is to be proactive. That’s why we wanted to start this fund,” Bruce explained. Ellsworth Kids: Food for Thought and Adrian Kids: Food for Thought were born.
The school boards acted on the Olson’s idea and took the necessary steps to establish a way in which funds could be donated to the school under the committed fund. A committee made up of school counselors and administrators who have knowledge of student needs, will administer the program and establish criteria for distribution of the funds.
The initial funds to establish the program came from a generous donation provided by Bruce and Barb. Bruce noted that the donation was made in honor of all the students who rode on his bus over the past twenty years. “Both the Adrian and Ellsworth schools have given me more than I can ever give back,” Bruce said. “100% of the amount given to the Food for Thought programs will stay here in our communities. That is why we will continue to contribute to it.”
Donations made to the Food for Thought programs will be accepted from any interested individual, group or organization that would like to participate. The tax-deductible donation should be designated as Adrian Kids: Food for Thought and can be sent to: Adrian Public Schools, P.O. Box 40, Adrian, MN 56110. For Ellsworth, the donations should be made to Ellsworth Kids: Food for Thought, and sent to Ellsworth Public Schools, 513 S. Broadway, Ellsworth, MN 56129. Any donation is sincerely welcome and greatly appreciated.
