Breidel and Ciummo honored as two of the state’s ‘unsung heroines’

Community Content  |  The Item

BOSTON – Two local women were among the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW) 2021 Commonwealth Heroine Award honorees this week.

Jodi Breidel, of Clinton, was nominated by Rep. Meghan Kilcoyne and Mary Ciummo, of Bolton, was nominated by Rep. Kate Hogan.

According to the MCSW, the Commonwealth Heroines are women “who don’t make the news, but make the difference. Thousands of women in every community of the state perform unheralded acts on a daily basis that make our homes, neighborhoods, cities, and towns better places to live. Commonwealth Heroines use their time, talent, spirit, and enthusiasm to enrich the lives of others in their community. They are mentors, volunteers, and innovators who strive to protect and represent the interests of seniors, victims of violence, children, immigrants, and other vulnerable populations. They are the glue that keeps a community together.”

Jodi Breidel

“Jodi Breidel is a shining example of an unsung heroine who works tirelessly to make the Town of Clinton, and all neighboring towns, a better place for all to live, work, and visit,” Kilcoyne said. “I was proud to nominate Jodi. As regional director of North County Regional of the United Way and director of WHEAT Community Services, she goes far above and beyond and truly cares about her community and its people.

“Her dedication to the people of this community was especially evident throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Jodi worked tirelessly to make sure families and community members were fed and taken care of,” Kilcoyne added. “Even under extraordinary circumstances, Jodi never waivered from her mission. I am honored to nominate Jodi in recognition of her incredible service to so many.”

WHEAT Community Connections has been serving residents in Berlin, Bolton, Clinton, Lancaster and Sterling since 1982, and in 2012 became a direct service of the United Way of Tri County.

Prior to COVID-19, one in 11 Massachusetts households faced hunger, about 9% of residents.  Since March 2020, about 38% of people are now food insecure, according to Project Bread. In 2020, WHEAT distributed 529,994 pounds of food and served 4,032 families through the food pantry. In addition, 57,640 meals were provided for lunch and dinner, a 428.6% increase from 2019.

When the pandemic saw a huge surge of food insecure individuals and families, Breidel and her team at WHEAT were able to meet the needs of the growing number of people who sought food assistance and help in emergency situations.

“I am honored and humbled by this recognition and accept this award on behalf of my staff and the many volunteers and donors who went above and beyond to help us during the pandemic,” Breidel said. 

Mary Ciummo

Ciummo is known for consistently going “above and beyond,” playing a vital role in her community that is both inspiring and honorable to those around her,” Hogan said. “With the Friends of Bolton Seniors, Mary served as a volunteer leader and organizer to ensure that Bolton seniors stayed connected in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was innovative in suggesting ways to reach Bolton’s seniors and tireless in her efforts behind the scenes to ensure activities ran smoothly and successfully.”

Over the past two decades, Ciummo has volunteered and served numerous other town organizations, including as chair of Bolton’s Public Ways Safety Committee and Bolton’s Mobility Committee and as a member of Bolton’s Master Planning Committee. She has led the Bolton Historical Society, The Friends of Bolton Seniors, and the Sawyer Scholastic Fair. Ciummo is also a member of the Nashoba Neighbors Board and is a former Cub Scout den leader.

“I am delighted to nominate Mary Ciummo as a 2021 Commonwealth Heroine,” Hogan said. “A true role model, Mary was a beacon of light when the pandemic seemed to consume her community. In a time when neighbors, and even family, seemed so distant, Mary was able to bring people together.”

Breidel and Ciummo were recognized and honored at a virtual ceremony on Wednesday, June 23 (after The Item went to press), hosted by the Mass. Commission on the Status of Women.

The commission is an independent state agency that was legislatively established in 1998 to support equal opportunities for women in the Commonwealth in all areas of life and to promote their advancement.