NORTHAMPTON — The generosity of the patrons of Joe’s Cafe during the COVID-19 pandemic touched the staff of the Northampton restaurant, so much so that it inspired a little altruism of their own.
The crew at the eatery, also known as Joe’s Pizza and Spaghetti House, collectively donated $100 to the Gazette’s Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund in honor of their “beloved” Rose Mumblow, who served at Joe’s for more than four decades. She continued working at the restaurant up until seven months before her death in 2017.
“We’re always thinking of Rose,” said Meaghan Sullivan, owner of the restaurant. “Her spirit is always with us.”
A black-and-white framed photograph of Mumblow standing behind the counter at Joe’s hangs above one of the doorways in the restaurant.
At 6 years old, Sullivan recalled waiting for her father, Jack Sullivan, who owned the business with Gerry Rainville at the time, and Mumblow, who Sullivan affectionately referred to as “Aunt Rosie,” would pass some chores like rolling silverware over to her.
Around Christmastime every year, Mumblow would assemble gift bags for her coworkers featuring a number of tchotchkes and knickknacks, including handmade ornaments. Since her passing, the tradition has unfortunately not been carried on.
“She loved Christmas and as we’re putting up our trees, we all think of her, so we wanted to honor her,” Sullivan said. “She was a very special woman — she was one of a kind.”
One tradition the restaurant is continuing is their annual ornament fundraiser in support of the Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund.
Joe’s Cafe began creating and selling ornaments in the 1980s after an employee and mother of several young children died in a house fire in Holyoke. Sullivan’s father and Rainville sold the ornaments as a way to raise money to purchase Christmas presents for the children.
As the children grew, Sullivan said they decided to expand their efforts to help more children and began donating to the toy fund. She estimated that the restaurant’s collective efforts have donated more than $10,000.
One of the largest donation years — and quickest to sell out — was 2020, when Sullivan designed an “ugly sweater” ornament.
This year’s ornament is a more traditional globe. While the ornaments aren’t available yet due to some supply chain issues, Sullivan said they will be available for purchase soon. The suggested donation is $10.
“Some give more because they know it all goes to the toy fund, and stays locally for the children in the area. It really is a great cause,” Sullivan said.
Named after a former business manager at the Gazette, the Toy Fund began in 1933 to help families in need during the Depression. Today, the fund distributes vouchers worth $50 to families for each child from age 1 to 14. Eligible families must live in any Hampshire County community except Ware, or in the southern Franklin County towns of Deerfield, Sunderland, Whately, Shutesbury and Leverett, and in Holyoke in Hampden County.
The following stores are participating this year: A2Z Science and Learning Store, 57 King St., Northampton; Blue Marble/Little Blue, 150 Main St., Level 1, Northampton; Deals & Steals, 1 Pearl St., Northampton; High Five Books, 141 N. Main St., Florence; The Toy Box, 201 N. Pleasant St., Amherst; Once Upon A Child,1458 Riverdale St., West Springfield; Plato’s Closet, 1472 Riverdale St., West Springfield; Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, 227 Russell St., Hadley; Odyssey Bookshop, 9 College St., Village Commons, South Hadley; The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 W. Bay Road, Amherst; World Eye Bookshop, 134 Main St., Greenfield; Holyoke Sporting Goods Co., and 1584 Dwight St. No. 1, Holyoke.
Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@gazettenet.com.
