Sondrio: the 2023 silver Ligari awarded to Gemma Simonini, a life spent for others.

Sondrio: the 2023 silver Ligari awarded to Gemma Simonini, a life spent for others.

The Commission appointed by the mayor Marco Scaramellini, which includes i three former first citizens, Alberto Frizziero, Bianca Bianchini and Alcide Molteni, among the various applications received, all of high profile, he agreed to award the 2023 “Silver Ligari” award to Gemma Simonini, class 1945, professional nurse until retirement and always volunteer. A life spent for others, for people in difficulty without family or home, promoter of the first reception centre, volunteer for Caritas but also city councilor for four legislatures, from 1994 to 2018, and president of the Social Services Commission. Since this year she has been involved in the "Bethlehem Project" to give hospitality at night to people without accommodation. Gemma Simonini succeeds Maria Pia Bongiascia, teacher and volunteer of the Beata Vergine del Rosario parish, awarded in 2022.

The prize was awarded with the following motivation. «She was born in Ponte Valtellina on 13 December 1945, resident in Sondrio, she is married and is a grandmother. After 21 years of hospital activity, operating room nurse, at the civil hospital of Sondrio, he worked at the retirement home of Ponte in Valtellina. He began his voluntary work at the Parish of SS Gervasio and Protasio in Sondrio where he is still responsible for assisting the numerous parish priests who have followed one another in the meantime and cleaning the church itself. He is volunteer for the city's Caritas for about 35 years, deals with the management of families in difficulty and the assistance of immigrants, with or without a residence permit.

she was co-responsible for eight years, with her husband, from the Casa di Prima Accoglienza. It is thanks to her that the First Reception Center was created to respond to the needs that were present in the city. You were a City Councilor for four legislatures, from 1994 to 2018, and in all four you held the position of President of the Social Services Commission. In 2008 you received from the Mayor the delegation to relations with the local voluntary and social assistance associations.

He has always contributed to supporting and increasing the activities carried out by the Social Services of the Municipality of Sondrio. His commitment is not over yet, even in recent years marked by the "Covid 19" pandemic, his irreplaceable figure has continued to spend himself for the needs of others, especially those most in need. At the beginning of 2023, the "Bethlehem Project", born on the initiative of Don Christian Bricola to make a room available at the Angelo Custode oratory to host some people forced to sleep on the streets at night, did not leave her indifferent and led to make herself available once again as a generous volunteer."

Il “Ligari d’argento” award will be awarded on Thursday 14 December, at 16.30 pm, during a public ceremony that will take place in the Council Room of Palazzo Pretorio. They will be the mayor Scaramellini, with the councilor for Culture, Education and Instruction Marcella Fratta and the former mayors members of the Commission, to reward Gemma Simonini and present her with a silver plaque with the engraving of a drawing by the great painter.