Family Shares Hugs, Meals With Patients
Nicholas Formisano relaxed in the living room of his tiny apartment on a scorching afternoon, a portable fan straining to provide relief to the AIDS patient and his visitors. The atmosphere in Formisano’s Arleta home was upbeat as he shared jokes and insights with D.J. and Garrett Spahr, 12, who had joined their parents, Steve and June Spahr, on their weekly Project Angel Food visit.
Seated on the sofa like a pair of bookends, the Spahr twins seemed completely at ease as Formisano talked frankly about his constant efforts to maintain his health and good spirits in this 16th year of his battle against the deadly virus.
“I can’t overstate the way I feel about this family,” Formisano said. “Even if I see June for only five minutes, it’s the bright spot in my day. If I don’t feel well, she gives me a hug and she’s always willing to come in and talk.”
Technically, hugs and conversation are not required of Project Angel Food volunteers, but don’t mention that to the Spahrs and the 65 other volunteers who fan out over the Valley to deliver 840 meals and limitless compassion to AIDS patients every week.
“The relationships we’ve made through [Project] Angel Food are very deep,” said June Spahr, 45, who began delivering meals for the organization six years ago. “It’s given my family the opportunity to enjoy friendships we wouldn’t have made otherwise.”
June Spahr says she hooked up with the West Hollywood-based organization because of her desire to help “feed the bodies and souls” of those who are often feared and forgotten by society.
When daughter Kristina was 8 and the twins 6, the children began joining their mother on her weekly treks across the Valley and immediately befriended pet-store owner Bill, a Project Angel Food client from whom they bought turtles, and whose house is a constant source of pleasure to the children.
“Bill has a small farm and we get to pet the pigs and chickens and stuff,” Garrett said. “I get a good feeling. [Delivering food] gives me time to get out of the house and talk to my family.”
“In the beginning I was a little freaked out,” D.J. said. “But we became friends with the people, and we even baby-sat one of their kids. I loved that.”
Project Angel Food is funded by a combination of gifts, government money and special events. Volunteers pick up the meals that are delivered to patients six days a week from sites in Van Nuys and North Hollywood.
“Without June, whose devotion and values I greatly admire, there would be a big hole in our Angel Food family,” said Susan West, project coordinator for the Valley.
She doesn’t have to worry about the Spahr family easing out any time soon.
“I’ve learned how to bring joy to people’s lives when they don’t have much of it,” Kristina, 14, said. “I’ve also had the chance to educate kids my age about AIDS.”
“I don’t see this work as magnanimous,” June Spahr said. “The way I look at it, I get to visit my friends once a week.”
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