PrettySquareGal
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Not retro, but still wanted to share this.
Soup kitchen diner turns benefactor
By GARY REMAL, Copyright © 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
AUGUSTA — Frederick Falvo Sr. had a genuine affection for his fellow man. It was an attitude that endeared him to many in downtown Augusta. The 67-year-old left another gift when he died: an unexpected donation to the Bread of Life soup kitchen, the charity that had reached out to him so often during his life.
Falvo's gift of thousands of dollars went to new tables and chairs for 40 people and numerous renovations, including a new floor, structural repairs, plumbing, ventilation, electrical work, paint, and for the first time, air conditioning for the often steamy kitchen.
"A couple of years back we had a couple of volunteers who were serving actually pass out on us, it got so hot," said Bread of Life Ministries Executive Director John Applin.
"It's a much brighter, cleaner, safer place for people - and all because of Fred's significant donation to us," he said. "So he will have a lasting legacy here."
Falvo, who suffered from severe schizophrenia, died in December, nearly two weeks after being struck by a car near the facility that had welcomed him so often as a diner.
His gift came to fruition Friday, when Bread of Life Ministries dedicated the first major renovation of the soup kitchen since it was formed in 1984 at the same 157 Water St. location where it now serves some 34,000 meals a year, Applin said.
"We're dedicating the renovations to him and honoring him with a shadow box the Cony Key Club is putting together with some of his memorabilia in it," Applin said.
The mementos include a harmonica Falvo used to entertain the many people he met.
Applin said he was stunned to learn after Falvo's death that he had so much money in a trust - about $18,000 from a family inheritance. Falvo had specified before his death that the soup kitchen should get the money.
"It was a shock to me," Applin said. "I've known Fred almost from the first day I came to the Bread of Life six years ago. And looking at Fred and the clothes he wore, you would never have thought he could do more.
"But he was concerned more about other people than he was about himself. After the accident, he was more worried about the person who had hit him because they were so upset than he was for himself."
The Bread of Life soup kitchen had been in need of renovations for some time, Applin said, and Falvo's posthumous gift came at the right time, providing the bulk of funding and prompting contributions from other donors.
Several contractors, including general contractor Lajoie Bros., provided services for reduced charges, Applin said.
"Even people we paid to do work . . . cut us some breaks for costs on materials and that sort of thing," he said.
Applin said the project cost Bread of Life about $20,000, not counting the gifts and donated work from contractors and volunteers. The soup kitchen was closed for two weeks in April while the work was completed.
Applin made special note of the new table and chairs. "The chairs were unsafe. We were afraid somebody might sit on one, break it and fall."
Soup kitchen diner turns benefactor
By GARY REMAL, Copyright © 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
AUGUSTA — Frederick Falvo Sr. had a genuine affection for his fellow man. It was an attitude that endeared him to many in downtown Augusta. The 67-year-old left another gift when he died: an unexpected donation to the Bread of Life soup kitchen, the charity that had reached out to him so often during his life.
Falvo's gift of thousands of dollars went to new tables and chairs for 40 people and numerous renovations, including a new floor, structural repairs, plumbing, ventilation, electrical work, paint, and for the first time, air conditioning for the often steamy kitchen.
"A couple of years back we had a couple of volunteers who were serving actually pass out on us, it got so hot," said Bread of Life Ministries Executive Director John Applin.
"It's a much brighter, cleaner, safer place for people - and all because of Fred's significant donation to us," he said. "So he will have a lasting legacy here."
Falvo, who suffered from severe schizophrenia, died in December, nearly two weeks after being struck by a car near the facility that had welcomed him so often as a diner.
His gift came to fruition Friday, when Bread of Life Ministries dedicated the first major renovation of the soup kitchen since it was formed in 1984 at the same 157 Water St. location where it now serves some 34,000 meals a year, Applin said.
"We're dedicating the renovations to him and honoring him with a shadow box the Cony Key Club is putting together with some of his memorabilia in it," Applin said.
The mementos include a harmonica Falvo used to entertain the many people he met.
Applin said he was stunned to learn after Falvo's death that he had so much money in a trust - about $18,000 from a family inheritance. Falvo had specified before his death that the soup kitchen should get the money.
"It was a shock to me," Applin said. "I've known Fred almost from the first day I came to the Bread of Life six years ago. And looking at Fred and the clothes he wore, you would never have thought he could do more.
"But he was concerned more about other people than he was about himself. After the accident, he was more worried about the person who had hit him because they were so upset than he was for himself."
The Bread of Life soup kitchen had been in need of renovations for some time, Applin said, and Falvo's posthumous gift came at the right time, providing the bulk of funding and prompting contributions from other donors.
Several contractors, including general contractor Lajoie Bros., provided services for reduced charges, Applin said.
"Even people we paid to do work . . . cut us some breaks for costs on materials and that sort of thing," he said.
Applin said the project cost Bread of Life about $20,000, not counting the gifts and donated work from contractors and volunteers. The soup kitchen was closed for two weeks in April while the work was completed.
Applin made special note of the new table and chairs. "The chairs were unsafe. We were afraid somebody might sit on one, break it and fall."
