By Anna Bonavita
If this land will soon raise its head from the mud, it will be due to the many volunteers who are working tirelessly to rebuild what has been lost. According to estimates by the Region of Emilia-Romagna, there are at least 3,000 individuals who have stepped forward, to which are added 2,000 volunteers from the Civil Protection and various associations. But these are only those who have “registered” as volunteers, through municipalities and groups.
In reality, there are many more people working to restore the destruction, vividly described in this article from The Guardian, from Emilia-Romagna and from all over Italy, including those below. As they work, they proudly declare “Forza Romagna!” — a phrase which conveys a determined spirit that people in the US might call “Romagna Strong.”
Among the many who ran to help are the community of artists who stepped in with shovels and creativity to clear the muck, after an artist’s studio in Faenza was engulfed by the flood.
Artists join together in the recovery of a friend’s studio in Faenza.
There was also Marcello Parri, a 42-year-old from Rimini (originally from our beloved Pennabilli). A bank employee, he will get married on June 10, and last Saturday he had planned to celebrate his bachelor party with friends. But the celebration took place in Cesena, as he and 8 others helped shovel mud all day long. "Basically we haven't done anything special,” they say. “Many other people are busy these days in the flooded areas.”
The idea of celebrating in an alternative way came from a friend. "We had fixed the day for some time,” says Massimo, “but we hadn't established what to do.” There were various ideas, then one proposed: “why don't we go and volunteer in the flooded areas?” The idea was shared in chat, and everyone “immediately accepted with enthusiasm, starting with the groom himself.” Instead of toasting and celebrating, Marcello and his friends spent Saturday immersed in the mud. “It was a natural decision. There was damage in the Rimini area, but decidedly less than in the rest of Romagna. We didn't feel like having a great time.” Yet this will be a bachelor party to remember!
Friends of the groom from Rimini, celebrating a bachelor party by helping with cleanup efforts in Cesena.
And while some are deep in mud cleaning houses and streets, others are making sure tasty meals are available for everyone. Our friends from Casa Artusi are always first to respond to a need and their snacks are, as always, mouthwatering! We salute the enthusiasm of the young and old volunteers, and wish we could be there too, to break bread with them and to tell them all “you are not alone.”
Casa Artusi staff, preparing meals for community members
Trays of homemade lasagna await volunteers and displaced homeowners
Former Director of Casa Artusi, Susy Patrito, delivering meals
Esperienza continues to monitor the situation in Romagna and our flood relief fund is growing. Through the end of May, Esperienza will match all donations. For details or to make a donation, click the button below.