PHOTO PROVIDED Sons and Daughters of Italy employees pictured, front row from left, are Megan Levan, Pamela Tabatabai, Samantha Crane, Nina Schmidt and Chris Stiver. Back row, Angela Rogers, Nicole Barner, Kelly McGhee, Terry Miller, long time staff member Bruce McNeely who passed away in 2025 and Angela Welsh. Not pictured is Bill Dodson.

LOCK HAVEN — The Sons and Daughters of Italy of Lock Haven is continuing its mission to give back to the community however it is able.

“The Sons and Daughters of Italy is proud to announce that, in 2025, the lodge contributed back to the community over $113,055 in donations and in-kind services,” a release from its board of directors said.

The lodge hosts many local organizations that use the facility to hold meetings and events. This includes the Lock Haven Kiwanis Club, the Bald Eagle/Nittany Valley Kiwanis Club, the Lock Haven Lions Club, The Clinton County Bass Club, the Crafting Club of Clinton County and the Alpine Start Lodge.

The Sons and Daughters also has assisted organizations holding fundraising events in its Italian Courtyard, its heated outdoor patio space, at little or no expense.

“That allows them to expand their missions,” the release said.

Organizations that were assisted in 2025 include the Clinton County United Way, the City of Lock Haven, Clinton County Government, the Lock Haven Kiwanis 100th year anniversary celebration, the Grand Lodge Sons and Daughters of Italy of Pennsylvania.

The release notes the BENV Kiwanis Club will be holding the upcoming “Pot of Gold” Kash Bash in the courtyard on March 14.

“The members of the Lodge continue to hold fundraising spaghetti dinners for non-profit groups in Clinton County throughout the year,” the release said.

In 2025 the following groups were selected:

— Bald Eagle United Presbyterian Church

— Lock Haven Catholic School

— Skills USA

— Leadership Clinton County

— Clinton County Historical Society

— Clinton County Special Olympics

The lodge gave out monetary donations in 2025 to over 50 organizations. This is a partial list:

— Clinton County Housing Coalition

— Lock Haven YMCA

— Special Prom Night

— Lock Haven Fringe Fest

— Harger Utilities Charities

— Six LHU Sport Teams

— Holy Spirit Parish

— Woodward Township Recreation

— Seven Little League teams

— Six college scholarships

— Covenant United Methodist Church

— Food Banks

— Infant Development Program

— The Salvation Army

— The Haven Cupboard

— Clinton County Community Connections

Recently, the Sons and Daughters of Italy purchased the former Hand in Hand Fire Hall building adjacent to the lodge and are currently in the process of expanding into that building with the first floor bar room.

The new area will keep the historic former fire hall theme and the lodge is hopeful people in the community will have items to donate that will enhance the interior decor with antique pictures or other fire fighting items of years gone by.

The building also has a large 20 foot by 40 foot bay that could be turned into 10 climate controlled storage units for rent.

“We also have a 1,000 square foot room for rent that could be used for an office, subshop, barber shop or other small business,” the release said.

The lodge has a customer base of almost 3,000 members and, on a normal day, between 400 and 500 members come in the door, so the traffic would be great for the business.

“We have free parking in three large parking lots that surround the facility,” the release noted.

The lodge also recently renovated the second floor banquet restrooms making them handicapped accessible and replaced windows.

The Sons and Daughters of Italy Board of Directors is currently looking into the possibility of having a mural painted on the exterior of the building very similar to the beautiful painting on the Lindsey Place on Jay Street in Lock Haven. The proposed mural will feature the Italian Heritage of the region as well as the local ties with the Pennsylvania Railroad and the lumbering era of Clinton County.

This feature will enhance the building and will be visible from Paul Mack Boulevard, welcoming visitors when entering the City of Lock Haven.

“This is another commitment from the lodge to the community’s investment in the arts that promotes tourism for Clinton County,” the release said.

Board President Dan Vilello thanks all of the lodge’s current members and encourages everyone to become members.

“Because when you join the Sons and Daughters of Italy you help us give back to our communities,” Vilello said. “See you at The SONS!”

Sons & Daughters of Italy

1 Henderson St., Lock Haven, PA 17745

570-748-9292