An Angel Among Us, Jan Allai.

Originally published on social media in 2021

GIRARD - Perhaps part of being an amazing person, is you simply can not see you are one. This is certainly the case with Angels Among Us, lead fair volunteer Jan Allai.

Angels Among Us, a group that helps provide financial assistance to cancer patients, has been successful in Crawford County largely in part to its founder Diana Polston, and lead volunteer Allai. However, Allai will take little credit for the success of the program now starting its second decade. Despite the fact that tens of thousands of dollars has been raised through various fundraising efforts, including the Angel's Cafe at the fair which is well known for its fried chicken.

Allai is the first to pass credit out like confetti, rarely keeping any for herself. From her work with Angels Among Us since it began to her decades-long teaching career Allai is quick to offer up kind words for volunteers, mentors, and friends who have made her path smoother.

"I have had a lot of good people help me over the years," Allai says simply while gesturing to the team of volunteers setting up the Angels Among Us kitchen.

The volunteers though are quick to disagree, pointing out all Allai does, like the 4:30 a.m. to 9 pm. shifts she pulls the entire fair. They point out all the time she spends selling placemat ads, a task made easier by her vast connections. "Jan knows everyone," one of them says. Another mentions how "Jan knows how to do all of this," motioning to the Angel's Cafe set up.

Allai waves the compliments off, even while giving directions on how to set up serving trays, commenting instead on the helpfulness of the PHS football boys who load and unload all the needed supplies every year.

She points out that during the fair she'll have over 80 different people volunteering in the Angel's Cafe, and tries to downplay her importance in the operation. Her volunteers shake their heads and smile. It appears they know Jan does more than she's willing to let on.

"I just enjoy helping people," she says repeatedly. "This organization does so much good for others."

If you listened to Allai you would probably assume she's had little impact on her community. However, if you look beyond her humble manner, you find a woman deeply dedicated to her hometown area. One who has spent thousands of hours volunteering, teaching, and advocating for kids in Crawford County.

Allai is an all-around Crawford County girl. She was born in Girard, went to school in Arma, and lives in Pittsburg. She graduated with two degrees from Pittsburg State University, taught and retired from Girard schools, and has left a mark countywide.

From her first days in education, Allai was ready to do whatever was needed of her. During her time as a student teacher, she was asked to fill the spot of a suddenly unavailable art teacher at Girard.

Although still a university student, she did so well that after graduation the superintendent called her home and left a message with her father.

The call promised her $6,000 for her first year, quite a sum for a brand new teacher in the early 70s. Allai joined the Girard teaching team and never left, serving the school as a full-time teacher for over three decades.

During her time at Girard, she taught "anything that they needed me to", including English, typing, penmanship, and art, before finally settling down to teach 5th grade.

"Teaching art was something because we had few supplies," Allai remembers. "I used to go to the co-op and get sacks from them. I could wash them and the kids could use the burlap for class."

Allai's time teaching has left a lasting legacy. Former students stop by the table where Allai is telling her story, thanking her for teaching them. A friend and fellow teacher remembers how Jan always had shoes that exactly matched her outfit when she started teaching, something the kids loved. Allai smiles recounting the times she taught PE, was the pep club sponsor, or helped coach softball. Everyone, it seems, has a memory of "Mrs. Allai ''.

Allai officially retired in 2001, but immediately returned to substitute, and later to help create a mentoring program at the school. The mentoring program was canceled permanently following covid, bringing her career with Girard schools officially to a close in 2020. When it's pointed out to Allai, that she spent fifty years in service to one school district, she smiles a little wistfully.

"There is such a camaraderie you develop with the other teachers. Good friendships, and then the kids come up when they are grown and remember you, that's special." Allai said.

Allai still sees a lot of her former students as an Angel's volunteer.

"Former students come through the line here and they'll look twice. Sometimes it takes them a second but then they realize who you are. They remember you, and that's nice, to know they remember."

Allai doesn't spend long in the past though, the present grabbing her attention as a local business owner stops by with t-shirts that Jan has arranged for her cooks working all week.

Allai smiles her out with words of gratitude before returning to the table.

"Covid stopped a lot of things, but it didn't stop cancer," she says when asked about the importance of this year's event. She explains that the fair event is the biggest moneymaker for the organization, and so she gives it her all. The rewards for all those long hours over the past 14 years at the fair according to Allai are many.

"People are so grateful for the help. We provide money for things other organizations don't. Things like Boost, food, those kinds of expenses,” Allai explains. "A woman came through the line here at the cafe. She had a little kid with her and she told them we bought her wig. She was really grateful to Angels for the help."

When asked what she hopes her legacy will be after all the time she's spent serving others Allai's eyes mist over. It's obvious she rarely considers the positive effect she has had.

After a moment she says, "It means a lot that the former students remember me, that I cared about them," she hesitates and then finishes, "I've always wanted to help."

It's safe to say she has indeed.

*Jan Allai story originally written in 2021.