By Claudia Cencini
Behind the scenes of the Stella d’Italia public assistance association, which has been serving the city of the Festival and its people for 131 years.
There is a star in Spoleto that has been shining for 131 years, and you don’t have to wait until Christmas to see it because its light lasts all year round. It is the Stella d’Italia, a non-profit public assistance association that has spanned centuries and generations to reach us today, stronger and brighter than ever. Yes, because despite its “seniority,” Stella d’Italia retains the beautiful youthfulness given to it by the young people who choose the path of volunteerism and the passion that never stops and shines in the eyes of its president, Gianni Fernetti, the tireless leader of this extraordinary “machine” of good.
We meet him at the headquarters in Madonna di Lugo, in a space that since 2011 has housed offices, meeting rooms, and a fleet of vehicles.
“We bought it a year ago,” he tells us proudly, “and we are preparing to make it a hub open to all citizens, whom we are reaching out to in order to make ourselves better known and to be able to do more in a spirit of teamwork and common synergy. Only in this way can we grow and improve.”
A blast from the past
On behalf of the association he represents, the president, or rather Gianni (as he prefers to be called, allergic to titles that he says are useless), has collected the history of this association in his book “Stella d’Italia” (Star of Italy), as we are reminded by the memorabilia hanging on the wall of the meeting room: flags and silk ribbons embroidered in gold which, despite wear and tear and the signs of time, have not lost their magic and tell us about how we used to be. The ribbon of memory rewinds to November 1894 when a group of fifty Spoleto residents, led by lawyer Suman, the King’s attorney, founded the association, driven by a common sense of belonging and the need to give the Spoleto community a pillar of assistance of great humanity.
The original wooden and fabric stretcher on display on the ground floor of the building that houses the association takes us back in time. It is a unique piece that captures the eye and the heart, equipped with extendable handles at both the front and rear for the poor stretcher bearers to transport the unfortunate patient, given the condition of the road surface at the time.
Looking at it, it resembles a small chariot, which deserves much greater visibility, but the association is also thinking about this with a project accessible to all that will give much greater prominence to this and other artifacts of healthcare and associationism ‘ante litteram’.
The “Stella” gives… numbers
Over the decades, the Stella has grown thanks to the work of many who have dedicated themselves over time with passion and self-sacrifice for the good of others. Its activities were only interrupted during the wars, but after World War II, it regained momentum thanks to the initiative of great presidents such as Nicolai, Pastorelli, and Zuccari. Even during the Covid pandemic, it has been an indispensable presence, working tirelessly to bring relief and support to the local community in coping with the tragedy of the pandemic.
It currently provides emergency transport services in the municipalities of Spoleto, Castel Ritaldi, Campello sul Clitunno, and throughout the Valnerina. It has about 130 volunteers, of whom about 60 are active every day, a large group of under-17s who bring extra energy and enthusiasm, and, above all, 31 employees, making it one of the few organizations capable of creating jobs in Spoleto, as well as 200 supporting members, the result of a constantly growing membership.
Here are some other figures that give an idea of the final balance based on facts: in 2023, 6,530 emergency 118 interventions were carried out, 17,420 medical taxi transports and an average of 18 trips per day for over 300 days for the transport of dialysis patients.
Stella d’Italia and Anpas, a successful partnership
For some time now, Stella d’Italia has been participating in collaboration with Anpas in the civil service call for applications, which also serves as a recruitment channel for young volunteers.
ANPAS (National Association of Public Assistance) was officially founded in 1904 as the National Federation of Public Assistance Societies, but its roots lie in the mutual aid societies of the Risorgimento, and it was established as a non-profit organization in 1911. The current acronym, A.N.P.AS. (National Association of Public Assistance), was adopted following a statutory evolution, with a decisive change in 1987.
Not just healthcare
Contrary to popular belief, Stella d’Italia operates across the board, not just in the healthcare sector.
“I would like to emphasize that the association’s work is not limited to calling ambulances for hospital emergencies,” Fernetti points out. “Many people mistake us for 118, and we are that, but we are also much more. The time has come to open a more open and synergistic dialogue with all citizens, institutions, and businesses operating in the area to raise awareness and understanding of our work.”
The association has a series of social and health agreements and collaborates with local associations such as Croce Verde and Spoleto nel Cuore, but now more than ever it is reaching out to expand the boundaries of new partnerships and to promote its services, also in the hope of establishing a closer relationship with institutions. For now, the only link between Stella d’Italia and the municipality as a public entity is the association’s annual presence in schools, in collaboration with the councilor for education, Luigina Renzi, and the certified trainer, Dr. Fulvio Toseroni, who is also responsible for training within the association.
“This initiative is aimed at fifth-year students in higher education institutions and consists of a series of BLSD (Basic Life Support) courses to teach students who are now of legal age about defibrillators and how to use them in an emergency through a form of educational tutoring that appeals to young people,” explains Andrea Massari, head of personnel, or rather, as he prefers to call himself, factotum of the Stella.
But he is not alone, because his spirit is shared by managers, advisors, volunteers, and employees, all on the same level, ready to reinvent themselves and work as a team when the need arises, even if it means getting their hands dirty with hard work.
A light that shines brightly
Today, Stella d’Italia has become a beacon for Spoleto, a point of reference for citizens who know they can turn to those who are always ready to help and support them in times of difficulty and illness, without ever saying no.
In the healthcare field, the association has entered into an agreement with the local health authority and has five stations, four of which are emergency stations, located between Spoleto and Valnerina, and one used mainly for the discharge of hospitalized patients. In addition, it makes use of its now powerful and structured human and mechanical resources to respond to other needs that go beyond the strictly healthcare field. There are countless other services offered, ranging from therapeutic transport to errands for private citizens who need, for example, the delivery of medicines or basic goods to their homes.
Furthermore, thanks to an agreement signed in 2012 with the U.E.P.E. (External Penal Enforcement Office of Spoleto), Stella d’Italia is committed to the social reintegration of individuals involved in illegal activities.
The watchword is training
It should be noted that nothing is left to chance, but is based on a series of training steps without which you cannot enter this world. The representatives of Stella are keen to emphasize this, precisely to convey the message that randomness and indifference have no place here. On the contrary, everyone works hard to grow professionally with the aim of providing the best possible service.
Anyone who wants to join will find the door open, provided they undergo a series of training steps, at the end of which they will be ready to wear the Stella ‘livery’. For example, volunteers will also be trained to deal with more or less urgent emergency situations, and employees will be required to complete a four-step training course: the first is a welcome course, the second is for the qualification of stretcher bearer, the third is for drivers, and the fourth is for driver-rescuers. At the end of the course, participants must pass an exam. To help newcomers manage even the most delicate emergency situations, the association provides the support of a medical advisor and a psychologist.
Finally, the president sums up the aims of the association he represents as follows: “We want to regain control of our city, to work together beyond the gratification of the individual, which also makes us proud, and to convey the message that has always distinguished us, that of an association at the service of the people.”
Associazione Di Pubblica Assistenza Stella D’Italia Spoleto, Via Antonio Gullotti 49, Spoleto (PG) / Tel +39 0743 49834 / www.stelladitaliaspoleto.it