By Father Joel Munzing, OFM

The St. Vincent de Paul Society saluted 72-year-old John Camarata, president of Camarata Shippers and Receivers, with a plaque at the Farmers Market on January 10 for his charity to the poor in metropolitan Atlanta.

For 23 years, Camarata donated fruits and vegetables at Christmas time, making it possible for the St. Vincent de Paul unit of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Church to deliver their annual 100 baskets. Unfortunately, this year the number dropped sharply due to the high cost of other foods that make up the baskets.

“You didn’t have to give us thanks,” he shyly assured those present when the plaque presentation was made by Joseph Flanagan, executive secretary for the Atlantan archdiocesan St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Slumped deep in his worn executive chair, in a small office that looked equally worn from use, John Camarata listened to the SVdP executive say: “You haven’t been charitable only now and then – when the mood struck you – but you did it consistently in the true spirit of St. Vincent de Paul.”

“My daddy taught me to keep the Church in my heart,” the successful president said in explanation for what his admirers thought about him. Then too, there was no church in his native town, Cedartown, Georgia; a disappointment to his father, but remedied by advising his son to keep it in his heart.

Evidently, John Camarata learned his lesson well. Even before helping the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Camarata was reaching the poor in his own way – in all Atlanta.

When he was 21 in 1923, he arrived, as he said, “in my football helmet and uniform” to work for the Fidelity Fruit and Produce Company, weighing in at 176 pounds but soon down to 138 after working every day of the week from 4 a.m. till 7 p.m. for $15 a week.

The business tempo was picking up outside his office, reflected by Camarata’s interruptions of the presentation proceedings to shout a direction to key members of his staff in an adjoining office.

The Vincentian representation sensed it. So did his chunky black cat that, from nowhere, jumped up on his cluttered desk. The spry fruit and vegetable president paused to introduce his cat, named Meeney, born from a litter of four: Eeeney, Meeney, Mineey and Moe.

But, more seriously, he hastily let it be know that, “If we could take 50 percent of what is here in the United States and thrown across the sea, and give to the poor and elderly, this country would be far better off.”

Showing increasing restlessness to get back to his whirling world of business, he compulsively said in conclusion: “You are doing a damn good job.” With that he lumbered away from the Vincentians, and as they left the office, each walked off with a carton of fresh strawberries, waiting for them on the loading platform.

Present at the presentation were Mrs. Charles Allread, president of the Shrine-Church Vincentain Society, Thomas Zaworski, treasure, and Gerry Schlag of the executive board.

Could there be another explanation for John Camarata’s faithful charity, other than what his “daddy” taught him? He does celebrate his birthday on Christmas Eve.