While she takes no credit for pulling together a committed group of women who enjoy breaking bread together as well as bringing joy to others, Wendy Russo is without a doubt a natural organizer. Russo has been the prime mover behind the Bay Club lunch group, a group of women, friends, and neighbors who meet each Friday for lunch at the club. It is an informal group brought together by their desire to enjoy each other’s company while also planning activities that benefit others. And although the group doesn’t really have a name, per se, its efforts have helped many organizations.
Most recently, they have partnered with the Veterans Association of Bristol County, located on Pine Street in Fall River.
Russo explained that several members of the lunch group go to the VABC once a month to engage the veterans in social activities, such as the game Left-Right-and-Center, while also visiting with veterans who drop in for a cup of coffee.
“Many of the veterans are lonely,” Russo quietly acknowledged. The group brings along door prizes comprised of items the vets might need such as razors, clothing, and gift cards to various retail stores. They also provide boxes of hot coffee and a special homemade banana bread baked by one of the volunteers from the Samaritans, another group Russo has helped over the years.
At the lunch group’s December 6 gathering, each of the more than 30 women brought $25 gift cards, enough for every veteran they serve to have two gift cards each.
An important aspect of the group’s outreach to the veterans is the dissemination of information.
“We share information with them about services and how to obtain them; things they might not be aware of,” Russo explained. She believes that veterans oftentimes have a hard time asking for help, so the group’s monthly outreach is an avenue for the veterans to receive important information along with a cup of friendship.
But as much as the group gives, Russo believes they also receive. Of the veterans, she said, “They become friends we look forward to seeing.”
Russo is not a novice when it comes to volunteering; she spent 26 years on the phones as a Samaritan. She is currently on the board of directors. Russo was careful in sharing experiences she’s had in her capacity being on the frontlines with the Samaritans, but she also doesn’t shy away from the rougher edge of life where people are in abject emotional turmoil. It could be that her calm gentle demeanor was at times all the caller needed to hear.
As for the ladies of the lunch group, they too have aided untold numbers. They have taken such projects as providing sanitary products to young girls through a partnership with the YMCA in New Bedford, and putting together care baskets for babies of addicted mothers – babies who oftentimes are not going home. As women and mothers themselves, the lunch group understands the needs of both teenage girls and tiny babies.
Russo beamed as she explained her recent acceptance as a “cuddler” at a local hospital, a program of volunteers who embrace and rock newborns.
In addition to many things, Russo is an organizer in possession of a wide network of contacts. When a food pantry noted its need for a new commercial refrigerator, Russo’s network came through.
“We were able to provide them with the unit and the installation,” she said with a big smile.
Though the lunch group is indeed an informal gathering of women, they are most assuredly like-minded. When asked to point out who among them stands out as most helpful in the various projects, all pointed to Russo.
With another smile, Russo said in response to her fellow luncheon ladies: “They all support the projects we take on.”
By Marilou Newell