Let’s take a break from the unabated nastiness of the 2024 election season and find some joy instead.

Our fingers can be used for more than pointing blame at others, especially those with whom we disagree politically. Fingers can bring a community together by signing checks and credit card authorizations that invest in the common good.

That was the case last week in Marion County, home to the state capital. People of differing political persuasions and various walks of life — government, business, social services, law enforcement, churches and more — pulled out their checkbooks and credit cards to assist individuals reentering civil society from prison.

This took place in a county with a conservative elected government, a county whose per capita income pales in comparison with its northern neighbors, a county that for generations was home to every Oregon prison and a county whose civic leaders believe in ROI — return on investment.

The occasion was the 14th annual fundraising breakfast for the Marion County Reentry Initiative, or MCRI.

MCRI is premised on a simple idea. It’s financially and socially less expensive to help inmates successfully reintegrate into the community than to investigate, prosecute and imprison them for committing new crimes.

“Nearly every individual who goes to prison from our community will return. And just as we held that individual accountable for the harm they caused in our community, we now welcome them back, and we give them the resources they need to lead a good life,” Marion County Commissioner Colm Willis told the Oct. 24 gathering at the Keizer Civic Center.

MCRI has become a national model. The county’s recidivism rate remains below the state average even though that success resulted in less state funding.

Life on the inside is far different from life on the outside. District Attorney Page Clarkson, who composed a witty poem for the occasion, reminded the audience that poverty is a significant for criminality.

Through MCRI, more than 200 employers have signed up to provide job opportunities for qualified reentry clients.

A criminal record isn’t the only obstacle to getting that job. Individuals also might need education and training, substance abuse treatment, housing, transportation and such daily essentials as eyeglasses and government IDs. Each costs money.

“Every client I get to work with has a unique story,” said Camille Brignon, a program coordinator with the Community Corrections Division of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. “They often share stories of how their lives have been impacted by trauma, addiction and family disconnection. They are processing grief, learning new coping strategies, letting go of unhealthy habits and thought patterns, and seeking sustainable employment as a new way to survive in the community.”

Among other things, MCRI funds during the past fiscal year covered:

— 123 daily or monthly bus passes

— 41 eye exams and glasses

— 22 requests for clothing and/or shoes, usually work- or interview-related

— 30 birth certificates

— 13 requests for help with move-in fees with housing and admittance into treatment facilities

— 11 driver licenses or ID cards

— 5 requests to help with education or training fees, certificates or supplies.

“I believe in the brain’s ability to rewire, overcome negative thought patterns and cultivate healthier ways of thinking and behaving. I believe in the human capacity to adapt to trauma and challenging experiences. And I’m going to assume that all of you guys are here this morning because you believe those things, too,” Brignon said.

“Your generous donations to the MCRI fund are not just providing shoes and ID cards. You’re providing peace of mind and hope for community members who are reinventing their lives.”

Retired auto dealer Dick Withnell, a longtime Marion County civic leader and philanthropist, followed up by asking the 300 or so attendees to make an investment in individuals turning around their lives.

“There’s social justice, which I really believe in, but there’s got to be accountability,” Withnell said. “And this is what the MCRI does.”

This year’s “Giving People a Second Chance” breakfast has raised about $6,000 so far.