Sons of Italy - Info

Just south of downtown Omaha is a neighborhood that was Omaha's original "Little Italy." Settled by Italian immigrants who made Omaha their home in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this neighborhood is still home to the Sons of Italy. The Sons of Italy began as a benevolent organization, helping newly arrived immigrants to find housing and jobs. When the flood of immigration subsided in the 1920's, the Sons of Italy continued to help those in need. Since the 1980's, the Sons have hosted a Thursday pasta feed to fund their philanthropy. On any Thursday, hundreds of people flock to Sons of Italy Hall, where, for five dollars, they can fill their plates with pasta, homemade sausage and meatballs. For an authentic taste of Sicily -- and we're talking about more than just the food -- visit the Sons of Italy.

Italian Immigration

Between the early 1880s and World War I, more than twenty million immigrants came to the United States in search of freedom and opportunity. Italians were among the huge flock of immigrants that chose to make America their new home. Most were families with little wealth and few possessions.

ORDER OF THE SONS OF ITALY IN AMERICA - As the great Italian migration of the late 19th and early 20th centuries unfolded, immigrants of all nationalities faced issues of survival, isolation and assimilation as they settled across the United States. To better cope with the emotional and material needs of his community, an Italian immigrant, Vincenzo Sallero, M.D., and five of his fellow immigrants formed the first Order of the Sons of Italy in America chapter in the Little Italy neighborhood of New York City. The year was 1905. The need was great, and the non-profit organization thrived.

NEBRASKA SONS - With the promise of work on the expanding railroads, immigrants moved west. A community of Italian immigrants made their home in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1929, the Nebraska State Lodge of the OSIA was established at 1238 S. 10th Street in Omaha.

Goal of Sons of Italy

The original goal of the Sons of Italy was to provide aid and comfort to immigrants of Italian ancestry. This included assisting in the assimilation process, help in finding jobs and housing, and the preservation of the rich cultural heritage of Italy.

Evolution of the Organization
As immigration slowed, the Sons of Italy shifted its efforts to aiding needy individuals and supporting a wide range of charitable causes. However, the group is perhaps best known for its famous Thursday spaghetti feeds. The cost of the dinner is five dollars, and on any given Thursday, the customers can number anywhere from 500 to more than 1,200, especially during the election season. Politicians make the "Sons" a mandatory stop on the campaign trail. The dinners are served every Thursday, from 10:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Charitable Giving
A large percentage of the profits are donated to a variety of charities, with free meals provided to various organizations for the elderly and the needy. But the Sons of Italy also reaches out to individuals in need, whether it is feeding the poor and hungry or helping to pay the occasional utility bill, regardless of the individual's ancestry.

Membership
A person doesn't even have to be Italian to join the Sons of Italy. If you are Italian by birth, or if you have a spouse who is Italian by birth, you qualify for 'Regular' membership, which includes voting privileges. However, anyone else wishing to join can participate as a 'Social' member which includes involvement in all functions but without voting rights.

How do they stay afloat?
How can five dollars in today's economy buy a huge spaghetti dinner that requires days of preparation and a huge list of ingredients? To start with, there are no paid employees other than a few workers from the Open Door Mission and the Anthony House who aid in lifting heavy items and other manual chores. In turn, the hospices receive what food remains. The men and women who prepare and serve the dinners volunteer their time. The Sons of Italy also receives donations.

Is it only men?
The women's auxiliary lodge is a key facet of the Sons of Italy spaghetti feed and overall charitable operation. Several women help prepare meatballs or sausage for the meals and aid in the Thursday dinners. Additionally, these women also contribute canned goods at each of their meetings that are distributed to the poor. Since the inception of the Order of the Sons of Italy in America, men and women have shared equal status within the organization, as do individuals of all ages and professions.

Recipes
Anyone interested in making their own homemade version of the authentic Sicilian spaghetti sauce served every Thursday at the Sons of Italy dinners will have to start from scratch. The recipe is a secret.

FOR FURTHER READING:

http://www.osiafl.org/heritage.htm

http://www.sonsofitalypa.org

History of Italian Immigration in Nebraska by Alphonse Thomas Fiore University of Nebraska, 1938