Palmieri’s ensures pasta fundraiser a Senior Center success

The Johnston Senior Center’s (JSC) annual Meatball Fundraising Dinner isn’t your usual meatball and spaghetti supper. It is, however, one of the JSC’s biggest fundraisers of the year. The meal comes at no cost to the award-winning center that’s located at 1291 Hartford Avenue.

“It’s an absolutely awesome fundraiser,” said Tony Zompa, the JSC’s executive director. “It comes at no cost to us, and that’s rare.”

That’s because Steve Palmieri, who owns and operates D. Palmieri’s Bakery at 624 Killingly Street, donates the entire meal to help the JSC in its ongoing mission to provide the best possible programs for senior citizens in the Johnston.

“We don’t have to prep or prepare anything,” Zompa said. “What Steve does for us is just incredible. His generosity helps us put on programs that are not included in our annual budget.”

While D. Palmieri’s Bakery prepares the salad, pasta, meatballs, Italian bread and dessert, all the JSC has to do is provide servers.

“And the meal is served individually by many of our great volunteers,” Zompa said. “This meal is too important to set up buffet style. We have people preparing each dish in the kitchen and other volunteers serving every person and every seat in the room.”

When asked why he donates such an extraordinary dinner, Steve Palmieri wasted no time.

“It’s a way to give back to the community. I enjoy doing this fundraiser for our senior citizens,” he said.

But D. Palmieri’s Bakery, which is noted for its Italian gravy, sweets, breads and pizza, doesn’t just do the pasta and meatball dinner on a one-time basis.

“We’ve been doing this for six years,” Steve Palmieri said. “We do the same thing for the North Providence Senior Center. It also makes everyone in our company feel good that we’re helping people in the community we service.”

Zompa said dinner will be served at 5 p.m. Wednesday and there’s plenty of free parking available. Tickets, priced at $10 for adults and $5 for children, are on sale at the JSC and can be purchased by calling Marie Venditti or Debbie Ross at 944-3343.