Letters of appreciation hang on the wall at Paul's Barber Shop, on Owasco Road, in which the Superamento Handicap association in Biccari, Italy, “extend deepest gratitude from our hearts, due to your generosity.”
Angela Kershner / The Citizen
Saltarello stirs a huge pot of pasta sauce while manning the kitchen during a tortellini fundraiser dinner at the Knights of Columbus in Auburn Saturday.
Saltarello stirs a huge pot of pasta sauce while manning the kitchen during a tortellini fundraiser dinner at the Knights of Columbus in Auburn Saturday.
Next to it hangs pictures of the handicapped people who have benefited from the generosity of Paul Saltarello and the Auburn community. They are photographed next to the van that takes them to medical appointments, while another shows them holding a key to the city and check that was presented to them that helped to purchase the van.
Saltarello said that in the United States, something like a wheelchair ramp is often taken for granted. It's expected at public places and adding one someplace is can be a simple task because typically there is room for expansion.
Imagine now being a handicapped individual living in a small Italian town, where buildings are built together as one big block and there is no room to add a ramp. Accessibility is limited.
A place such as this - the small town of Biccari - is where Paul Saltarello was born and lived for his first 16 years before moving to the United States in 1964.
“They just don't have the facilities like we do here,” he explained.
Three years ago, Saltarello, a Knights of Columbus member, set out to raise funds to help those in his hometown with disabilities after a close friend from his adolescence expressed a need.
“The first time he got hit with meningitis he was cured. We believe it was through the prayers that the whole town did,” Saltarello said. “At 21 when he was in the service he got it again and became paralyzed. We've kept good ties, and about six or seven years ago he became very depressed. They don't have the things we do, and he said he needed some extra assistance and asked if we could help out.”
Saltarello chaired a dinner at the Knights of Columbus and raised $1,200, which was presented to Superamento (which Saltarello said translates to mean “exceeding disabilities)” and got things rolling. It got people interested in helping the handicapped people in Biccari, he said. The following year, $3,000 was raised and donated. This money bought the van, which has become invaluable to the community. In a sign of gratitude, the city of Auburn's seal as well as that of the Knights of Columbus adorn the side of the vehicle.
“The van is used by everyone, for visits for treatments and to get to special clinics. It brings handicapped children to school,” he said. “It will also take widows to visit the cemetery of their loved one.”
The money was presented to the Superamento organization at presentations, which Saltarello said was a “beautiful feeling.”
In 2006, he traveled to Italy with Dr. John Ryan and Giuseppe Casamassa for the presentation, and he said prior to the ceremony, the group held a dinner in their honor.
“Everyone walks up and thanks you personally wherever we went,” Saltarello said. “They are so very very appreciative.”
Although this year he will not be able to make the trip, Saltarello said his sister has planned a visit, and she will take the funds raised at the tortellini dinner the Knights of Columbus held on Saturday, which included a menu of antipasto, garlic bread, homemade meatballs, sausage, tortellini, connoli and cream puffs that he and Tony Lupo prepared together as chairmen and chefs for the event.
About 110 people came out to the dinner, which raised a total of about $1,300 through ticket sales and individual donations to send to Biccari.
The money raised this year will go toward continued maintenance of the van, Saltarello said. The city of Biccari also has donated a room to Superamento for meeting purposes, and the money raised will also help maintain this facility.
“The money will also help with insurance for the van,” he added. “Insurance there is very expensive.”
The people of Biccari have also started their own fundraisers. Dinners and other minor benefits have helped to promote the cause locally. In a town of 4,500 people, the first dinner drew 100.
Every one of the people in attendance were grateful for the work done by Saltarello and the Auburn community for getting the ball rolling and all 100 signed a Christmas card that was mailed to Saltarello.
He translated and made copies for his friends that have helped him in this mission. Saltarello has translated every piece of correspondence received from his friends back in Italy so that everyone involved locally can see first hand that what they are doing makes a difference. He does the same for mail sent to Italy.
Ultimately this relationship between Auburn and Biccari is one of trying to create equal opportunities for everyone.
“They still don't have the facilities like we do, but this is trying to change that,” Saltarello said. “The message is that even though you are limited as handicapped, don't give up. You can still do what you can to help out others and the community.”
Staff writer Laura Boyce may be reached at (315) 253-5311 ext. 236 or laura.boyce@lee.net
Saltarello said that in the United States, something like a wheelchair ramp is often taken for granted. It's expected at public places and adding one someplace is can be a simple task because typically there is room for expansion.
Imagine now being a handicapped individual living in a small Italian town, where buildings are built together as one big block and there is no room to add a ramp. Accessibility is limited.
A place such as this - the small town of Biccari - is where Paul Saltarello was born and lived for his first 16 years before moving to the United States in 1964.
“They just don't have the facilities like we do here,” he explained.
Three years ago, Saltarello, a Knights of Columbus member, set out to raise funds to help those in his hometown with disabilities after a close friend from his adolescence expressed a need.
“The first time he got hit with meningitis he was cured. We believe it was through the prayers that the whole town did,” Saltarello said. “At 21 when he was in the service he got it again and became paralyzed. We've kept good ties, and about six or seven years ago he became very depressed. They don't have the things we do, and he said he needed some extra assistance and asked if we could help out.”
Saltarello chaired a dinner at the Knights of Columbus and raised $1,200, which was presented to Superamento (which Saltarello said translates to mean “exceeding disabilities)” and got things rolling. It got people interested in helping the handicapped people in Biccari, he said. The following year, $3,000 was raised and donated. This money bought the van, which has become invaluable to the community. In a sign of gratitude, the city of Auburn's seal as well as that of the Knights of Columbus adorn the side of the vehicle.
“The van is used by everyone, for visits for treatments and to get to special clinics. It brings handicapped children to school,” he said. “It will also take widows to visit the cemetery of their loved one.”
The money was presented to the Superamento organization at presentations, which Saltarello said was a “beautiful feeling.”
In 2006, he traveled to Italy with Dr. John Ryan and Giuseppe Casamassa for the presentation, and he said prior to the ceremony, the group held a dinner in their honor.
“Everyone walks up and thanks you personally wherever we went,” Saltarello said. “They are so very very appreciative.”
Although this year he will not be able to make the trip, Saltarello said his sister has planned a visit, and she will take the funds raised at the tortellini dinner the Knights of Columbus held on Saturday, which included a menu of antipasto, garlic bread, homemade meatballs, sausage, tortellini, connoli and cream puffs that he and Tony Lupo prepared together as chairmen and chefs for the event.
About 110 people came out to the dinner, which raised a total of about $1,300 through ticket sales and individual donations to send to Biccari.
The money raised this year will go toward continued maintenance of the van, Saltarello said. The city of Biccari also has donated a room to Superamento for meeting purposes, and the money raised will also help maintain this facility.
“The money will also help with insurance for the van,” he added. “Insurance there is very expensive.”
The people of Biccari have also started their own fundraisers. Dinners and other minor benefits have helped to promote the cause locally. In a town of 4,500 people, the first dinner drew 100.
Every one of the people in attendance were grateful for the work done by Saltarello and the Auburn community for getting the ball rolling and all 100 signed a Christmas card that was mailed to Saltarello.
He translated and made copies for his friends that have helped him in this mission. Saltarello has translated every piece of correspondence received from his friends back in Italy so that everyone involved locally can see first hand that what they are doing makes a difference. He does the same for mail sent to Italy.
Ultimately this relationship between Auburn and Biccari is one of trying to create equal opportunities for everyone.
“They still don't have the facilities like we do, but this is trying to change that,” Saltarello said. “The message is that even though you are limited as handicapped, don't give up. You can still do what you can to help out others and the community.”
Staff writer Laura Boyce may be reached at (315) 253-5311 ext. 236 or laura.boyce@lee.net
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