Manor Township Brothers’ Business Benefited ‘Toys for Tots’

By Jonathan Weaver

A trio of Manor Township elementary students along with a West Kittanning business owner will make a donation to a nationwide charity this holiday season.

In only three business days, Nine-year-old Cadin, seven-year-old Ian and five-year-old Quinton Olsen, raised more than $425 selling refreshments and snacks – which will be matched and added to by their mother, Julie, to total $900.

Julie explained the entire concept started when her oldest son was learning how to be an entrepreneur in school.

“My oldest son (a fourth-grader in Sharon Thomaswick’s class at Lenape Elementary in Manor Township) came home from school one day and said “I want to start a business. I want to sell popcorn.’ Olsen recollected. “So, he started cutting up cardboard and making a name for his business to set up a stand in front of our house.”

When the business didn’t sell anything the first day – even with the efforts of seven-year-old son, Ian, with rainbow bracelets – the brothers were disappointed until Julie mentioned selling outside of their father’s business (Olsen Chiropractic) and grandfather’s business (Armstrong Eye Care Associates) in Highland Plaza in West Kittanning.

Ian shifted his focus to selling hot chocolate and coffee their first business day – October 31 - and the brothers added five-year-old brother Quinton into the mix selling cookies November 11 when they were off school and also last Wednesday.

“We told them ‘You need to give the money to people who need it, so we let them pick where they wanted to send it and they picked ‘Toys for Tots,’ Julie said.

“They ended up with $426.56. I was going to donate ($23.44) to make it $450 and (father Ryan) is going to match it to donate (a total of) $900,” Julie said.

Cadin didn’t think he would make that much money, but was proud of his effort and said the donation makes him feel good – his first individual donation.

Ryan also annually sets up an “Angel Tree” in his chiropractic office to “Adopt-a-family.”
The weather dictated what product sold the most, but all the donations were put in the same bank bag to discourage competition. The remainder of the popcorn was given to family members during a Thanksgiving Day flag football game.

Popcorn was sold for a dollar or two (depending if customers wanted gourmet) and cookies and drinks were a dollar each.

“I think when people realized it wasn’t just my kids trying to make money, they would give us $10 and only take six cookies or take four things but give us $5 and tell us to keep the change,” Julie said. “There are a bunch of offices up there, but people on their way to Wal-Mart would stop by. People would also see them from the Rite-Aid drive thru.”

Customers also know the boys due to family pictures in the office.

Each day, the trio was joined by brothers, three-year-old Braddock and one-year-old Jude. Julie will contact Kittanning Salvation Army officials to determine if they would rather have a cash donation or a donation full of toys.