Monday, December 2, 2024
Per Sempre Lodge No. 2344 planned to make the change at it’s meeting on Tuesday in order to focus its efforts on a holiday drive that night to help residents in need.
The organization’s leaders asked attendees to bring non-perishable items to the meeting, at which they were also scheduled to initiate two new members. They plan to send the food items to the Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church this weekend.
In previous years, the organization made food drives a common practice, but the logistical challenges of social distancing during the pandemic made that difficult. Indeed, the Lynbrook lodge’s survival was nothing short of remarkable, First Vice President Robert Bacarri said — especially after other local clubs disbanded.
Seven out of 18 service organizations listed on the village’s website have phone numbers that are out of service and appear to be inactive online. One organization includes the Lions Club, which a number of residents said they were unaware of or hadn’t heard about for years.
Occupancy restrictions dramatically reduced participation at the Per Sempre Lodge, Bacarri said, and with it, crucial funding. In 2020, it could no longer afford the rent at its headquarters on 815 Sunrise Highway, and it now holds meetings and events at Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church on 25 Fowler Ave in Lynbrook.
The rate of volunteerism in the U.S. fell to 7 percent in 2020, according to the U.S. Census — the lowest since the government began tracking it in 2002.
The Order of Sons and Daughters of Italy attributes its survival and relative success, to a large and active Italian community, Bacarri said. The Lynbrook lodge was founded in 1975, and the men and women’s chapters have had as many as 140 total members.
Its focus during the holiday season is on generosity through charity, reflecting the Catholic faith’s emphasis on community and on preserving Italian culture, Bacarri explained.
Being Catholic is not a requirement for membership, he added. The order’s mission statement reads simply, “While we are an Italian American organization striving to preserve our culture and heritage, and to promote a positive image, our doors are open to all.”
Italian Americans, Bacarri said, have enriched the United States with many inventions and creative twists on classics, from the Big Mac to the microchip.
“We have changed the way America thinks,” he said. “Hopefully for the better.”
Bacarri, 59, a technological field specialist, said he tries to educate the community about Italian culture and contributions, especially the younger generation. He carries that culture and his family’s immigration story with him, he added, with the hope that he might inspire others who may not be in touch with their heritage.
In the past, the lodge has worked with a local teaching agency to host free Italian language classes for children. But as fewer Italians immigrate to the U.S., Bacarri said, he hopes the country’s traditions and culture are not lost on younger generations. While he acknowledges the significance of being an American and considers New York his home, he said that Italy holds a special place in his heart.
In addition to the holiday food drive, the lodge is planning more events — such as a Christmas toy drive on Dec. 3
Although juggling his career and service position is challenging, Bacarri said honoring his heritage makes it worth it. “I love being Italian,” he said. “I think it’s the best thing in the world.”
