Our Lady of the Angels event brings out the best in the community

It was a way for Anthony Zappone to make a few bucks.

But he not only washed Marie Rizzi's car, he earned her respect.

Zappone is a Lakewood Ranch resident who now attends Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers. On the side he runs AZ Detailing, and he received a call from Rizzi, who lives in Lorraine Lakes.

As Zappone went about the task of cleaning her car, Rizzi began telling him about a special fundraiser at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church on Saturday, Sept. 23. The event — Boots and Bandanas — needed some donations for its silent auction.

Rizzi explained how proceeds from the event would help expand services and programs for those in need in DeSoto County. Among those in need are many migrant worker families who still haven't totally recovered from a hard hit from Hurricane Ian.

Now Zappone could have went right on cleaning, never lifting his head above the car's dashboard as he tended to the interior. But he had some history years before with Rizzi, who was a full-time sub at R. Dan Nolan Middle School.

You don't need to be around Rizzi for long to know she cares about people. It is an honest caring.

Zappone offered to give her a $100 gift certificate for his services to put in a silent auction basket. Rizzi was overwhelmed.

She began to tell him about the struggles of the people the event would benefit. Zappone was just about finished with his task, but he looked at Rizzi and said, "You can double that."

"I feel so humbled," Rizzi said, and she noted how miffed she gets when she hears about how our youth lack a solid work ethic.

Zappone wasn't giving some money and walking away. He made his donation and will be working for hours to fulfill his commitment. Rizzi said that is a special quality, and it should be celebrated. She is right.

She was similarly humbled when her grandson, Parker Pope, heard about her effort to help Boots and Bandanas. Also a Florida Gulf Coast student and a Lakewood Ranch High grad, Pope had just bought a boat and wants to start a business giving bay tours working out of Sarasota. He donated six boat tours to put into a silent auction basket.

Greenbrook's Eddie Gloria, the CEO of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, said those acts of charity are not uncommon in Lakewood Ranch. In fact, he has been so impressed with the community's overall generosity, he thought it would be the perfect place to host Boots and Bandanas, an event that has been held in Port Charlotte the last 22 years.

Gloria noticed that several parishioners of Our Lady of the Angels had been traveling to Port Charlotte each year for the event. He thought it was time to bring the event to them.

Whether those helping are teens or seniors, or in-between, the generosity of Lakewood Ranch residents has impressed Gloria for years. 

The event itself — held in the Parish Hall from 6-10 p.m. — will feature live country music delivered by Andy Pursell, a country recording artist who was born and raised in Arcadia. The barbecue dinner will be prepared by Sarasota's Mission BBQ. 

Tickets for the event are $100. For questions, call 863-494-1068 or email [email protected].

Pat Martino, the retired business manager for Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church, said the more than 3,000 parishioners will embrace the event, which has been named its charity of the month for September.

"We have a super generous parish," Martino said. "We come and overdo it. These people have a need and hopefully we can supply it and have fun at the same time."

The hope is to draw 250 people to the event. 

"I don't think people remember that there are a lot of lives (in DeSoto County) who can't move forward," said Gloria Romero, the Region 4 director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice. "They are still wondering 'Am I going to do without laundry detergent this week?'"

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, operates a food pantry at St. Paul's Church in Arcadia 9-11 a.m. each Friday. It also performs many other services for those in need in DeSoto County.

"There is a tremendous amount of need that goes unseen," Gloria said. "There are people who can't make ends meet. A lot of kids have both parents working and they aren't getting educational support. We want to get them the resources they need."

But the nonprofit, which spans a 10-county area, also helps those in need in other counties. For example, they have delivered food and supplies to those in need in Myakka City each month since Hurricane Ian hit last September.

The event at Our Lady of the Angels is open to everyone, not just parishioners of the church.

"We don't serve people because they are Catholic, we serve them because we're Catholic," Gloria said. "I feel this is a very generous community overall, not just the Catholic faithful. The community at large. I have seen this community donate a ton of food and cash donations after a storm. It makes a huge difference."

He said funds raised will beef up after-school programs and tutoring in DeSoto County and will provide some financial assistance.

The event still can use silent auction items. Those who would like to donate can call Rizzi at 626-755-1280.