Paul Mazzapica brings joy to assisted living center residents through karaoke

TAMPA, Fla. — A Pinellas County man has made it his mission to lead a group of church volunteers to be a blessing to their community. Paul Mazzapica’s joyful spirit really shines as he leads his team.

Mazzapica said he was meeting with some fellow members of Countryside Christian Church seven years ago when they came up with the idea for a volunteer team called Operation Influence. That grew to include giving blessing baskets to local businesses, bags filled with necessities to homeless people, handing out hundreds of wood crosses and recently something called Shine Your Light.

Shine Your Light team members go to assisted living centers to sing karaoke with residents. On a recent evening at Collier’s Assisted Living, Mazzapica was setting up his karaoke gear inside a large meeting area. There was a computer for streaming music and some large speakers.

“We wanted to put our faith into action. So, we said what better way to do that than to share love. And there’s no better place to do that than this place, Colliers,” said Mazzapica. A few minutes later Mazzapica was playing some music and gathered residents were clapping to a song.

Team member Ken Vasquez was getting the elderly residents into the spirit of the evening. “We are here to love on you and let you know you are not alone. God has us. God has you,” he said.

The idea behind the karaoke night is the bring joy from the outside world to the residents who might feel forgotten. Team member Bob Elliot kept the energy going with leading much of the singing.  It’s a fun filled experience for everyone.

Team member Ken Vasquez was getting the elderly residents into the spirit of the evening. (Spectrum News/Rick Elmhorst)

“I’ve seen them dancing. I’ve seen them singing along,” said Mazzapica. “One thing I see is a lot of smiles.”

Resident Eileen Mcaulay said the karaoke sessions bring residents out of their rooms at night, and everybody has a good time.

“The whole idea of operation influence is to get out and be the hands and feet. That’s what we want to be,” said Mazzapica. “Not just sitting there in church wanting to do it. We do it.”