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April 17, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: My wife Sunny and I attended the Ukrainian dinner last Saturday, April 15, at Grace Episcopal Church. It was an inspiring moment – made you proud to be a citizen of Lexington.
Something like 95 people assembled for a dinner cooked by the Ukrainian families, along with entertainment, speeches, expressions of gratitude - even hand-made gifts from the children. We were treated like royalty.
It began with speeches from Jerry Nay (the power behind this entire event), supported by Joanne Robblee, Matt Fogo, Philip Clayton, who provided one of the houses in which one family stayed, his sister Sarah who supplied the floral arrangements and helped serve, and, of course, the meal, cooked by the Ukrainian wives.
The evening concluded with a silent and live auction of prizes such as a vacation cottage on Cape Cod, a stay in an elegant mountain cabin, a painting, a quilt and a fully provided cocktail party for 50 people - all donated and all auctioned by Cody Manspile.
Perhaps the highlight of the night was when the three Ukrainian families gathered together and sang s ongs in their native language - kids, mothers, dads and elderly uncles.
The generosity of both the material goods (over $22,000 raised that night) and the spirit of the evening, made you proud to be a resident of this very generous, very kindly town - of Lexington.
BRUCE MACDONALD Lexington
