When the folks at Paul S. Ely Insurance Agency in Chehalis learned the Centralia School District was in search of a new building project for its high school construction class, they knew two things:
No. 1, they didn’t need anything built. And, No. 2, they wanted to help in the effort to assist the class in any way they could.
Candice Richards, associate agent at the business, reached out to Centralia wood arts teacher Mitchell Smith to see what the needs of the students were, aside from a new project to work on.
In the soggy Pacific Northwest in the midst of the winter rainy season, the answer was clear: rain gear.
Working with Lincoln Creek Lumber to purchase the weather-resistant clothing and Huckleberry LLC for the printing, Paul Ely and company came through for the students, who are now well-protected against the elements as they work on their latest project at the Shalom Village transitional housing project in Centralia. Students have already worked on one structure on the property and will soon construct the village’s community building.
The contribution by the Chehalis business wasn’t a one-off. In fact, it’s just the latest in a growing list of ways Paul S. Ely Insurance Agency Inc. of Country Financial has been pitching in to fill unmet needs at local schools.
Ely, who has worked in Chehalis for 30 years and is a graduate of Centralia High School, said the donated rain gear is an example of his business’s approach to advertising and philanthropy.
“Our company encourages us to kind of get into the community and help out this way,” Ely said of Country Financial, noting that the business doesn’t conduct the same large-scale campaigns utilizing television ads and billboards popular with other insurance agencies.
“I try to get things directly into the community,” Ely said.
Smith said the rain gear was a welcome gift for his class of 12 students. This is Smith’s 34th year at the high school. Over the years, his students have built 21 houses in addition to other construction projects in the community.
For some of his students, rain gear has been a missing luxury in a region where construction sites can often be cold, wet and muddy.
Making the students comfortable is among the most important factors in getting them to work well, Smith said.
“In the past, kids have been responsible for getting their own rain gear,” Smith said. “Some can’t afford it. Some would have it, some would not.”
The situation represented the kind of opportunity Paul S. Ely Insurance Agency looks for when making a contribution to the community.
Ely noted that, earlier this year, Richards reached out to local school districts on behalf of the business, asking if teachers had any unmet needs.
“A lot of times, they’re coming up with their own money for things that aren’t in their budget, just being the great teachers they are,” Ely said, later adding, “If you see a kid we can help without drawing a bunch of attention, let us know.”
Having been a student of Smith’s, Richards was familiar with the Centralia High School construction program and how successful it has been in leading students to careers in the trades.
She said she and Paul S. Ely Insurance Agency were happy to be involved.
“We would like to thank Mitch Smith and the Centralia construction program for allowing us to participate in this project and look forward to seeing the hard work pay off for these students as they learn this valuable trade, while giving back to the community,” she wrote. “We look forward to further supporting students, teachers and programs in our local community. We are proud to assist in the growth of our future leaders in any possible way.”
Rain gear is just one example of how the business is willing to assist local schools, teachers and students.
Richards said money for field trips, school clothes and supplies, food and shoes for students in need would also be considered.
Paul S. Ely Insurance Agency has also been partnering with other businesses to assist the Chehalis School District’s Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) program.
As part of the DECA program, students began running the Crimson & Gray Powered by Lewis County Coffee at W.F. West High School, an in-school coffee shop fully run by the school’s business and marketing students, last spring.
Now, on home game days, Paul S. Ely Insurance and other businesses provide free drinks to the first 200 people who arrive to watch Bearcat football.
Additionally, the business contributes to payments for local youths who participate in the Southwest Washington Livestock Market at the Southwest Washington Fair, in addition to other local efforts.
Ely said his contributions are meant to highlight the causes rather than his business.
“My focus is to help,” he said. “Just trying to look for ways to give back to the community and help out.”
To reach the Paul S. Ely Insurance Agency, call Ely at 360-740-9838 or Richards at 360-669-9625. The office is located at 19 SW 11th St., Chehalis. Follow the business on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PaulElyCountryFinancial.
