Page 2 HONORED | FROM Page 1 Among the leaders recognized at this year’s event was Revere’s own Eddy Volcimus, who was nominated as the Sixteenth Suff olk District’s honoree by State Representative Jessica A. Giannino. Although Eddy was unable to attend the event at the State House, his name was read alongside the other honorees. Representative Giannino later visited Eddy at Revere City Hall to present him with citations from the state and the MBLLC in front of his family and friends. “Eddy is the embodiment of what it means to be an exemplary employee—trustworthy, dedicated, and selfl ess. His unwavering professionalism and genuine respect for others are a tremendous asset to the City and an inspiration to those around him,” said Representative Giannino (D-Revere). “Congratulations, Eddy, and thank you for all that you do for Revere.” “Eddy is an exemplary employee for the City of Revere: hard-working, diligent, reliable. He comes to work each day with a smile on his face and leads by example amongst our fellow staff . He is incredibly deserving of the Black Excellence award, and we are incredibly proud of the hard work that earned him this honor,” said Mayor Patrick Keefe. “Thank you to the City of Revere, the people I surround myself with made me who I am today. To my boss, Steve Penta, who has been a consistent positive role model to me. And especially to all of the Patriots, who fought and sacrifi ced themselves, for the freedom of Black Americans today,” said Eddy Volcimus. Eddy consistently demonstrates what it means to be a truly exemplary employee for the City of Revere. He is trustworthy, consistent, hardworking, respectful, and responsible, and he leads by example every single day. Whether handling his regular responsibilities or supporting the team through unexpected challenges, Eddy brings a level of dedication and professionalism that sets the tone for everyone around him. One of Eddy’s most outstanding qualities is his selflessness. He never hesitates to step in where he is needed, even if it means going above and beyond his role as Building Maintenance Foreman. His thoughtfulness and attention to detail ensure that our facilities operate smoothly and safely, often in ways that go unseen but are never unappreciated. Eddy is a true team player who supports his crew with patience and respect, fostering a work environment built on collaboration and mutual trust. THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2026 PROPOSES | FROM Page 1 residents when they most need some assistance. You’re taking donated equipment and putting it back in service. This is a self-sustaining program rooted in compassion and common sense.” While other councillors were equally supportive, there were questions. Ward 2 Councillor Ira Novoselsky said the disabilities commission had tried to launch a similar program. “They gave it up because there was no place to store the equipment,” said Novoselsky. Other councillors said it VETERAN PANTRY | FROM Page 1 American Legion building in 2012 with just 37 clients; today that number is nearly 500, she said. Food insecurity among veterans has become a pressing issue since the global pandemic and the government shutdown in the fall. More than 21,000 recipients of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Massachusetts are veterans, according to the state’s website. Dreeszen said she founded the pantry after seeing many veterans struggle with was a great idea, but they also had questions about storage and tracking the equipment. And there was more. Deb Peczka-DiGuilio, the director of the senior center, held up a small brochure and told the council there was already a medical equipment loan program based out of the Masonic Hospital in Woburn. Peczka-DiGuilio said she has referred residents to the Masonic Hospital. “No one has ever had trouble getting equipment from Woburn,” she added. PeczkaDiGuilio stressed the problems would be storing equipfood insecurity. But when the pantry fi rst opened, few people came. She said she worked hard to persuade veterans to take advantage of the service. “I would ask the veterans, ‘Why didn’t you come to the food pantry?’ and they were like, ‘I don’t need it,’ even though some did,” said Dreeszen recently as she pored over a spreadsheet of the pantry’s statistics. Eventually, she said, the veterans began to come. Danny Hernandez, the pantry’s manager, said he and his staff began using targeted advertising to reach veterans, and the results have ment and fi nding someone to manage the program. Councillors acknowledged there were issues to work out. “We’ll work the details out and make this work,” said Ward 1 Councillor James Mercurio. And other councillors were also in support of providing a free service to residents at no substantial cost to the city. “I’m thrilled with this motion,” said Council President Anthony Zambuto. “If we could do this here, in Revere, it would be great.” The motion was referred to the council’s Human Services subcommittee for review. led to an increase in the number of people using the pantry. On the eve of the monthly food pantry, Hernandez, the staff and volunteers start preparing for distribution day. This includes designating specifi c areas to sort the food. The next day, volunteers arrive early, around 6 a.m., to receive deliveries from The Greater Boston Food Bank and stock large shopping bags provided by Wegmans. The pantry also receives fresh greens and other produce from Olivia’s Organics in Chelsea, said Dreeszen. Volunteers say they are driven to help. “It was only natural to be able to volunteer and give back,’’ said Carol Pizziferri, a volunteer for the past 10 years whose father served in World War II. She said that when the pantry was upstairs it was challenging for both volunteers and clients to get the bags to their cars. But now, the drive-up system has made things much better, especially for the elderly clients, she added. “It’s much easier than waiting for people, especially upstairs,” said Pizziferri. “And so now… basically, [you] come in your car, [we] put the bags in, and they check you off and see you later.” William Reedy, a volunteer who is also a veteran, said the pantry does what it can for the people it serves. “We all help one another,” Reedy said. “[If] anybody needs anything, they can always call us.”
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