NOTHING STOPS THIS MAN’S GENEROSITY

Submitted by Peter J. LaBelle

Some local citizens consistently go above and beyond the call of duty in helping Black River Good Neighbor Services achieve their mission.  Carmine Guica is one of those people.  On Monday, January 28^th the ninety year old Cavendish resident made his monthly trip to the grocery store in order to buy food to donate to BRGNS. 

Carmine Gucia is pictured on the left with Jim Fuller, past President of BRGNS

He has made this trip every month for almost as long as BRGNS has been providing food to neighbors who are in need.  This trip was different, however.

Although snow was predicted for late in the day, it arrived much earlier and coated area roads with a slick mixture making driving dangerous and difficult.  Unfortunately it started while Carmine was at the grocery store and caught him unawares.  That didn’t stop him from stocking up on food basics for his monthly donation though.  Car loaded, Carmine set off for Ludlow and BRGNS.  It was on the River Road in Cavendish that he met an icy patch on which he slid, overturning his car next to the river.

Immediately the rescue call went to the Weathersfield and Cavendish Fire Departments and the Ludlow Ambulance, each of which quickly responded.  Carmine was helped from the wreck and almost miraculously he was barely harmed.  Refusing transport to the local hospital, he insisted that he had to deliver the food that he had bought for BRGNS.  Without a car that would have been a difficult task, but that’s when other good neighbors stepped in to help.  The Cavendish Fire Department gathered up the cans and boxes, re-bagged them and loaded them into their fire truck.  Off they went with Carmine to make the almost ill-fated delivery.  Fortunately, Carmine was uninjured and is off to find a new car.

“There are not enough good words for us to thank Carmine and the Cavendish Fire Department,” said Audrey Bridge, Executive Director at BRGNS.  “Carmine is one of our best volunteer donors and there must be a guardian angel watching over him.  In this case the guardian angel has helpers; they are wearing the Cavendish Fire Department coats and hats.”

“It’s not often that we see someone of Carmine’s unselfish spirit helping others so consistently for such a long period,” said Peter LaBelle, President of the BRGNS Board.  “But that’s why Black River Good Neighbors can help as many people as it does.  Volunteers and donors like Carmine and the firefighters of Cavendish carry us through.  We cannot thank them enough for their actions.”