Pannese Society sets the table with Christmas food baskets

GREAT GIVERS: The Pannese Society, along with sponsor Columbus Door, gave a record number of 37 Christmas Food Baskets that were delivered Sunday. Taking part in the project are (from left) Joe Quartino, Lou Mansolillo, Joseph and Eleanor Spremulli, Bill Constantino and Rev. Peter J. Gower.

CLASSIC COLLECTION: This is just part of the 37 Christmas Food Baskets, that included spiral hams, the Pannese Society donated to Our Lady of Grace Church to help those families in need have a Christmas dinner.

Posted Thursday, December 20, 2018 4:14 pm

By Pete Fontaine

It’s Joseph Spremulli’s most favorite day of the year.

It’s equally the same for his wife Eleanor, who like her husband enjoys helping people in need, no matter what the season or reason.

So Sunday, the Spremulli’s met their long-time friend William “Bill” Costantino of Columbus Doors as well as Our Lady of Grace’s Pastor Rev. Peter J. Gower for an emotional and eventful meeting.

Joseph and Eleanor Spremulli head the Pannese Society and Women’s Auxiliary respectively and since the successful Italian-American non-profit was reincorporated in 2013 have held a seemingly unmatched gift giving program filled with everything from love to hams.

Since 2013, the Pannese Society has teamed with Our Lady of Grace and donated a record setting 37 Christmas Food Baskets topped with premium spiral hams that will be given to Johnston area residents who otherwise might not have the means of sitting down and enjoying a festive holiday dinner.

“We are happy to supply the food items to Our Lady of Grace Church that in turn distributes the Christmas Food Baskets to those families in need,” Spremulli said Sunday inside the Roman Catholic parish’s Fioretti Hall. “I absolutely love seeing those baskets overflowing with food.”

Spremulli said, “We actually have to make two deliveries to a household; the hams are simply too big to put in the baskets that are already chock full of groceries.”

Spremulli then issued yet another thank you to William and Dave Costantino.

“Bill and Dave are proud members of our Pannese Society,” Spremulli emphasized. “Today, Dave isn’t able to be with us but Bill’s wearing another hat as our major sponsor for our Christmas Food Basket drive.”

To which Spremulli added, “Nothing gives me greater joy during the Christmas season than assisting in the needs of Our Lady of Grace Church in providing this food for those in need. This makes our Christmas special.”

Spremulli issued thank yous to Johnston-based businesses Stop & Shop Supermarket, BJ’s Wholesale Club and TD Bank for also helping fill the food baskets.

Also taking part in Sunday’s ceremony were: Louis Mansolillo, Board Chairman of the Pannese Society; Joe Quartino of OLG: and Father Gower who said, “May God Bless you all for again making this wonderful donation that will help brighten Christmas Day for those families in need.”