Volunteer Extraordinaire: Vincent Christopher

“Ordinary men, doing extraordinary things,” is the unofficial motto of Vero Amici for Charity, a service club co-founded by Vincent Christopher of West Caldwell. Since its inception in 2006, the non-profit has raised $200,000 for special needs children, senior citizens and families facing hardships in West Essex towns.

Christopher, 49, might on the surface seem like an ordinary man. He is retired after 26 years with the U.S. Post Office, works part-time for a local landscaping firm and coached Little League for many years. A Montclair native, he moved to West Caldwell when he was 10. Now he and his wife of 23 years are preparing to send their 17-year-old son off to college.

But Christopher’s passion for giving back can indeed be called extraordinary. The soft-spoken, proud Italian-American gets choked up sharing his experiences, whether it be bringing new sporting equipment to orphaned boys or helping a mother whose child suffers from a rare illness.

Vero Amici has been able to ease this mother’s burden with $7,000 in donations. Christopher said they first went to her door unannounced and surprised her with a check.

“She has to work and hand her paycheck to the nanny just to have benefits,” he told Patch.

Vero Amici was started by Christopher and his good friend, West Caldwell Councilman Dominick Aiello, when the two men were looking for a way to give back. Christopher recently announced he will step down as president after serving for six years, saying they have accomplished things beyond their “wildest dreams.”

Vero Amici translates to “True Friends” in Italian. The organization has indeed been a friend to many, handing out $175,000 in donations to date. The club currently has about three dozen members, many who grew up in the West Essex towns they are serving.

Some of the organizations which have benefited include the West Essex First Aid Squad, the Local Assistance Board, The Bridge, St. Rocco’s in Newark and the Special Needs programs for children of the West Caldwell-Caldwell Recreation Department. In addition, about $70,000 has gone to families that have met with extreme hardships.

Through “Home Runs for Charity,” Vero Amici gives $100 back to the Recreation Department for every home run hit in the spring and summer in . Thirty runs in 2011 translated into a $3,000 donation this year. The organization also helps pay for an annual senior citizen lunch at a town pool.

Ken Trimmer, longtime football head coach for , accepted a donation from Vero Amici Tuesday night during a West Caldwell Council meeting.

“This money will be used for St. Rocco’s Emergency Homeless Shelter in Newark and St. Rocco’s Project Solution,” said Trimmer. He said the money would go toward fulfilling Christmas wish lists.

Vero Amici will also make the holidays merrier for children served by the Mental Health Association of Essex County.

West Caldwell resident Robert Davison, director of the Mental Health Association and a member of Vero Amici, accepted a $5,000 donation Tuesday. He said that although the MHA is heavily government funded, the funds will allow the organization to provide holiday celebrations to children in the county living under “very difficult circumstances.”

Maria Burak runs the Local Assistance Board, another organization that received a check from Vero Amici this week. Burak said their donation would be used primarily to stock the food pantry, which serves residents in Caldwell and West Caldwell. She said somewhere between 60 and 70 Thanksgiving dinners will be provided later this month. By taking away the burden of food costs, families are able to concentrate on paying the rent and other bills.

Burak recalled how one holiday the pantry was short on turkeys, so they reached out to Vero Amici for help. Members went to the local and purchased 55 turkeys and brought them over to the pantry. Christopher explained since all their money is “liquid,” they are able to help in such immediate and impactful ways.

As a father, Christopher said he hopes to lead by example and that the club will one day include the children of current members.

“Once they graduate college and they live in town, they can become members. We want Vero Amici to be around for a long time," he said.

Incoming President Joseph Garamella presented Christopher with a plaque and bestowed him with the title of “President Emeritus” on Tuesday night during the council meeting. Christopher will remain an active member and trustee. Township officials plan to honor him with a proclamation at an upcoming council meeting.

Vero Amici only holds one event a year, a Casino Night each spring at the Hanover Manor. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.veroamici.com.