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Secret donation at Austintown pizza shop serves those in need
By AMANDA TONOLI
AUSTINTOWN
A cash donation received by Fernando Riccioni, Wedgewood Pizza owner, was passed on to St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley to help feed those in need.
Township Trustee Ken Carano said this “strange, beautiful happening” was quite the story for his township.
During a busy time of day, a woman came into Wedgewood and handed Riccioni an envelope. He quickly thanked her and put it in his pocket, focused on his work during the peak hours of business.
“She trusted this man as everyone else in Austintown trusts this man,” Carano said.
Filomena Riccioni, Fernando’s daughter, said the woman said something Fernando didn’t hear and walked out leaving a gift, unbeknownst to him, in his hands.
“He must be trusted for someone to hand him all of that money,” said Crystal Eckman, Rescue Mission ambassador.
Later that day, Fernando Riccioni remembered the envelope and opened it. Inside, he found $1,000 in cash with instructions to give it to a deserving family for a fabulous meal.
Stunned, Riccioni consulted Carano as to what to do with the generous donation.
Carano said Riccioni and his family decided to distribute the donation for meals throughout the holiday to families in need.
“Fernando needs no publicity – Wedgewood is well-known everywhere,” Carano said. “He wants the news to get to the woman who brought the money in, that he passed on her donation.”
Lynn Wyant, Rescue Mission director of development, said she was more than grateful for the donation to a facility that serves more than 600 meals a day.
“We can always use more money for our food budget,” Wyant said. “A gift like this is always a blessing.”
The $1,000 was split, with $500 going to the Rescue Mission and $500 to the St. Vincent de Paul Society.