Peabody Ladies Named co-Elf of the Year

Luiza Diro and Mildred Justo admit it's difficult to be very active at their age -- they are 97 and 93, respectively -- but that doesn't stop them from knitting a hundred afghans a piece each year to give to hospitalized or aging veterans at Christmastime.

The two Peabody ladies, who are volunteers with Santa's Magic, Inc. were named co-Elf of the Year Thursday by the nonprofit organization for their charitable contributions over the past several years. Diro and Justo received their award and other tokens of thanks from the city and the Portuguese veterans post at an event hosted at Dinis Restaurant.

Jim Nentwig, president of Santa's Magic, said Diro and Justo "truly embody the spirit of giving" and are "outstanding examples of the exceptional people that are such an important part of the Santa’s Magic family."

"There is no better gift than when you take an afghan...and you put these around the shoulders of a person who is a vet," said Nentwig, pulling out examples of both women's handiwork. "And what we do is...Santa tells them this is a gift from a person who doesn't even know them that spent hours of time preparing and put love in every stitch."

Santa's Magic, which is based out of Boxford, will celebrate its 32nd anniversary this Christmas by serving approximately 1,200 hospital patients and loved ones in need of good cheer and support with meals, gifts, flowers, knitted aghans and other donations, and all from a personal visit by Santa.

The organization typically serves veterans and terminally-ill patients, but also visits families who have veterans away serving their country.

Nentwig said the group expands its efforts every year and will now add the New Bedford VA Hospital to its rounds. The group also regularly visits Boston area hospitals, in addition to other veterans facilities, and makes home visits.

He said the dinners are donated by the Danversport Yacht Club and this year, the owner of Angelica's in Middleton will be cooking up omelettes himself to serve to patients. Other donations are received mainly from churches and "Giving Trees."

"Most of the veterans who receive these gifts will not see another day outside of the hospital and for many they will spend their last Christmas in a hospital," said city councilor and local business owner Dave Gravel, who is a board member of Santa's Magic and who organized Thursday's event.

Mayor Ted Bettencourt and Commander Ray Silva of the Portuguese-American War Veterans Post also bestowed their own tokens of appreciation on Diro and Justo -- citations for their community service, blue PAWV caps and coins.

It's volunteers who "make the world a better place," said Bettencourt. "It's people with big hearts and who have great talent, like these two ladies, who use their talent to help make lives better for other people; it's doesn't get much better than that."

Silva, on behalf of the veterans he represents, said they truly appreciate all the work Diro, Justo and the entire organization does for veterans.

You can find more information about Santa's Magic on its website here.