Whenever I get an e-mail from Vito Parente, president of the Van Westerhout Molesi Cultural Club on Court Street, informing me of an event he is going to hold at the club, I know it will not just be contagiously congenial, it is sure to be a big success as well.
Saturday, September 10, 2016 was bore that out. The members of the newly associated Molese and Carinisi Club (from Bensonhurst), teamed up to raise money for the victims of Amatrice, the town and epicenter of the 6.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Italy on August 24, 2016.
Approximately 300 people died and the town has been reduced to rubble, but remarkably, the clock tower in the town’s piazza (square) remained intact. Survivors, a good 4,000 of them, now find themselves homeless and are living in tents and temporary shelters as they try to retrieve possessions and belongings and think about re-building their town and homes.
The members, friends and families of the two Italian-American cultural societies were intent on raising funds for the homeless victims, but were concerned about how those funds would reach Amatrice’s families. Instead of donating to an organization where only a portion of the donation may reach the victims, Vito Parente made arrangements to wire the raised funds directly to the Mayor of Amatrice, with the help of the Mayor of Mola. Tony Troia, president of the Carini Club pointed out that they wanted to make sure that those sleeping in the tents and shelters had direct access to the funds without any administrative interference that may hold up distribution.
With the usual backdrop of soccer airing on RAI-UNO on their flat screen TV, members and guests enjoyed trays of pork chops, grilled whole salmon, salad, wine, beer, fruit and a special treat of coffee-flavored cannoli cream pastries which were prepared by seven of the members. And an incredible $7,000 was raised in all. The Carini Club itself donated $1,000 in addition to what its members contributed.
