Words by Jacqueline Monet David (Wake Forest University)
Photos and videos by Shelby Canon
Our students recently took part in a first-time olive picking event hosted by the Fontenuova Cooperative, a social organization dedicated to supporting those with mental health issues and providing them with a community through agricultural and craft-based work. The cooperative, located right outside of Florence, has been active for nearly forty years, offering work like weaving and making agricultural products, as well as independent living, to marginalized individuals. The olive harvest, an important seasonal event not only for the cooperative but also for Tuscany in general, connects residents with volunteers and visitors for a moment of meaningful work and social connection.
As noted by the Fontenuova Cooperative’s director Giacomo Morelli, their aim “has always been to try to help all the people who use our services to achieve the highest possible level of autonomy. It is also important for us that the cooperative is an open, inclusive place that is in constant dialogue with everyone in the local area, everyone who is interested in the activities we carry out here, and who can interact with our guests.” This year’s “Festa della Raccolta delle Olive” hosted more than 140 participants, which included Syracuse Florence students joining in to comb the olives from the trees.
The volunteer initiative was a first for Syracuse Florence, and it was quite the success. Shelby Canon, the RA who accompanied the students to the event, noted that “it was such a beautiful and fun day, they treated us like family! What they offer to the community is so special, we were grateful to have contributed. Also, combing the olives off of the trees was so satisfying!” Students who took part in the event further emphasized the picturesque views, the taste of the olives, and the positive spirit of the event. Beyond harvesting olives for this year’s “olio nuovo,” the event reflected the cooperative’s mission: to foster dignity, connection, and inclusion through community work and spirit.
Words by Jacqueline Monet David (Wake Forest University)
Photos and videos by Shelby Canon
Video compilation by Jason Prasetyono