It takes a village to roll meatballs, stir sauce and coordinate all the weekly feeding, fun and friendship that goes on at the Methuen Sons and Daughters of Italy!
Last month. Lodge 902 took a night off from the kitchen and held its second annual Volunteer Recognition and Appreciation Luncheon at Lenzi’s in Dracut. It was a toast to those who bring “heart, spirit and dedication” to the lodge. About 30 guests attended.
There are approximately 20 rock-solid members who can always be counted on, said Vice President Gina Neve, whether the need is food prep, selling raffle tickets, organizing Razzle Dazzle Nights (see box) or welcoming new members.
“We have a lot of volunteers who wear many, many hats. They’re here for anything and everything that I can throw at them – and more!” laughed Neve, who also serves as kitchen manager and coordinates various events.
Two shining stars share this year’s Volunteer of the Year honor! Maddie DeFrancesco and Tev Mazzotta are not only connected personally, but by their love of time spent at the Sons. Neve is wowed by their ongoing dedication, commitment and tireless efforts, and she proudly added their names to the Volunteers of the Year plaque that hangs in the lodge’s bar area.
“Maddie is 93 years old and comes from Lunenburg every Thursday for Razzle Dazzle Night – and she drives herself!” Neve says, explaining that Maddie’s son Bob DeFrancesco is a former SOI member who still volunteers in the summer. “We start serving dinner at 5, so sometimes she’ll come at 1:30 to help me prep the food. We’ll shred all the chicken for chicken barbecues or she butters all the hot dog buns. She back on the road by 8!
“When she’s at the club, that’s all that woman does is smile and thank me. She says, ‘This lodge and you, Gina, the way you are, you’ve changed my whole life!’ ” Neve explains. “And I’ll say, ‘I’m thanking YOU!’ She’s the best.
“If (Maddie) is not a volunteer you want on your team, then there’s something WRONG with you!” Neve adding, cracking herself up.
Methuen’s Tev Mazzotta shares the top volunteer honor. Her sister, Mickey DeFrancesco, is Maddie’s daughter-in-law.
“When Tev lost her husband 2 or 3 years ago, Mickey said, ‘Come to the Sons – I think you’ll like it!’ Now Tev’s been here 3 or 4 years also,” Neve said. “She’s an unbelievable volunteer! She’s there every minute, knows how to do everything. And she knows computers, so she makes all the fliers for the lodge – WOW!”
Neve adores the Sons of Italy camaraderie and knows the value of hard-working, reliable volunteers.
“They love it! And once I get you, and you’re good, you’re never getting out of my hands!” Neve laughs.
