TimesLeader.com

October 18

Woman’s faith inspires her to help

Rose Bitto of Dunmore said she learned the value of volunteering through church.

By Shelby Fisk sfisk@scrantonedition.com
Scranton Edition Staff Writer / Photographer

SCRANTON – Rose Bitto said that she and her husband Steve are practicing Catholics. They’ve been to many different churches over the years hearing about how people should help their peers, and after joining the Salvation Army’s church four years ago, Rose said she was inspired to volunteer.

“It doesn’t get you to heaven but as a Christian you’re called to help,” Rose said.

She added that the Salvation Army really made that point clear to her, because she experienced firsthand how many people volunteer to help the organization and carry out its mission.

The Salvation Army is an organization that helps the needy and underprivileged, with programs that include adult rehabilitation, Christmas and holiday charities and providing disaster relief.

Representatives from the Salvation Army said that the church welcomes people of all faiths.

It was not always like that for Rose.

“We went to church on Sunday and that was about it,” she said.

“When you join the church, it’s more than just joining the church and coming to the service on Sunday. There’s so many things going on and they need so many volunteers,” Rose encouraged.

Rose said that she first heard about the Salvation Army from a story that her husband told her. He said when his father was young and living in New York after his father’s parents came to America from Italy, the Salvation Army paid them a visit.

It was Christmastime and they weren’t going to have presents, Bitto related. “And the Salvation Army, with a red wagon, shows up,” she said.

Rose said she and her husband have heard many other similar stories about the Salvation Army, and so they decided to join the Salvation Army church to learn more about the organization and how they could help others in need.

“Something here is special,” Rose said. “Christ is in church every Sunday.”

They attended worship services every Sunday, she said. About the second or third service she was approached by a volunteer.

“She said to me, ‘Rose, do you like to bake?’” she recalled. “I said, ‘Not really, I just baked when the kids were small.’ And she said, ‘We could use your help with the bake sale.’”

That’s when Rose said she went home and started rolling and rolling dough for cookies.

“It was exhausting, but I do it every year now,” she said.

Along with assisting the annual bake sale, Rose also helps wrap holiday presents and aids the Angel Tree project, which helps purchase gifts so children have something special under their tree for Christmas. Through the program, the name of a needy child and his or her holiday wish list are displayed on ornaments on the tree. Then members of the community choose for which child or children they would like to purchase the desired gifts.

Steve assists the Salvation Army through bookkeeping and participating in the annual holiday kettle drive.

“It’s the busy time of year now,” Rose said, adding that the couple often spends several days a week, apart from Sunday worship, volunteering.

It’s easier now that they are retired, she said, and both spend much of their time helping the Salvation Army when and where needed.

“When we retired I used to spend a lot of time at home…that gets to be old after a while. I (volunteer) because it makes me feel good,” Rose said. “You feel that you should (volunteer) and once you do, it’s just a great feeling.

“I wish more people would volunteer …there’s nothing like it in the world,” she continued.

And there are many people who need help, she stressed. As layoffs and job reductions continue, families are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. In many families, both parents were bread winners, now some are relying on just one.

She sees people who need help every day.

After only a few hours at the Salvation Army on Tuesday, Rose reported that she answered four phone calls from people who said they recently lost their jobs.

“If you don’t need help, give help,” she advised.

Rose Bitto

Town of residence: Dunmore

Occupation: Before retiring, operated Meineke Muffler with her husband Steve for 14 years

Charities, volunteer work: The Salvation Army, Scranton, four years

Family: Husband of 50 years, Steve; children, Theresa, Dorothy and Stephan; grandchildren, Chris, 8, and Sara, 5

Education: High school graduate, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Hobbies, interests: Reading

Volunteer of the Week is a regular feature in The Times Leader Scranton Edition that recognizes individuals, businesses or other organizations for their volunteer efforts and contributions to their communities. To nominate someone for this feature, e-mail mondrako@scrantonedition.com or call 558-01 13.