Dear Fellow Nutley UNICANS,

It is with a heavy heart that I am writing to you during this pandemic. My last letter to you was about a month ago canceling our April meeting. Since then, Frank Cocchiola has sent many Good and Welfare e-mails. Unfortunately, we have lost a member and members have lost family members to the Coronavirus. Vito Matturro has also sent out numerous Get Well and Sympathy cards from Nutley UNICO. My deepest concern to all members who are mourning, currently ill, recovering and/or out of work!

As for Nutley UNICO, we will continue to do our part for Social Distancing by canceling our upcoming Community Service Day (physically), our May Meeting, Brian Piccolo Breakfast and Bocce Tournament. As such, the cancellation of our dinner meetings at Mamma Vittoria and Franklin Steakhouse adds to their already challenged businesses.  To that end, your Executive Committee met via ZOOM and discussed this at great length. In an effort to assist both Nella Cicchino (Member) at Mamma Vittoria and Chris DiMaggio (Member) at the Franklin Steakhouse, we will be “PAYING IT FORWARD” and booking our regular future meetings by providing them deposit dollars now. Two regularly scheduled events per year (Breakfast with Santa and April’s Monthly Meeting) are held at the Franklin Steakhouse and we propose to give a deposit for both dates. Mamma Vittoria will receive a deposit for the first three of our 2020/2021 season of monthly meetings (September, October, November). Hopefully, this will provide them some much needed cash flow since closing their doors more than a month ago!

As part of our social distancing community service event, Nutley UNICO will be purchasing gift cards from Nutley businesses to be raffled off at our future meetings. We are asking that you join this “PAYING IT FORWARD” Initiative by buying gift cards and gift certificates from the businesses you have always supported, many of which I’m sure have supported Nutley UNICO as well. 

Mamma Vittoria has been using their remaining kitchen inventory to feed Nutley’s first responders. It is kindness like this that makes us UNICANS! 

Please join your Nutley Chapter of UNICO and make a difference to help those who have always been there to help us. Remember, we’re all in this together!!! 

If you know of any members who are doing something positive for Nutley, please let me know so we can put some “Good” in our Good and Welfare e-mails. Do not hesitate to contact me by phone, 201-618-3201, or e-mail me with any questions or concerns you may have.  Grazie!

Yours in UNICO,

Lorraine Bini Kucinski

President

P.S. Also, please consider donations to all of Nutley’s Emergency Services, Police, Fire and First Aid and Nutley Family Service Bureau who are in crisis mode.  For Gift Cards and Gift Certificates, if you need to get in touch with any of those businesses that are closed, please do not hesitate to call me at 201-618-3201

Preghiamo che tuti rimangano con buona salute e per quelli che sono malati, preghiamo per un rapido recupero!!

Translation: We pray that everyone stays well and for those who are ill, we pray you get well soon!!!