A packed hall in Veregin indicated another sold-out fundraiser for the Veregin New Horizons Committee.
On January 26, “awesome volunteers” helped prepare and load tables with ham, perogies, salads and all the trimmings, for the fourth annual Save the Hall fundraiser. For dessert, people had their choice of wheat salad or a Hawaiian salad with tea, coffee or juices.
Nadia Reibin, president of the Committee, welcomed everyone to the event.
“We have been very busy at ‘Coffee Row,’ and I’d like to acknowledge my husband Barry, Lawrence Kazakoff and David Dubasov for opening every morning at 7 a.m.,” she said.
This past year the Committee, along with a group of volunteers, some who come from Kamsack and as far away as Canora, raised in excess of $20,000 from their ongoing perogy sales.
Reibin acknowledged their effort, and the effort of the men who planted potatoes for the “perogy pinchers;” her husband Barry Reibin and Mike Holodniuk, and Rodger Moore who provided the garden plot.
The Committee had a booth at the annual Veregin Shishliki Barbecue in June and sold hot dogs, pies and Russian fruit tarts. All this, coupled with some grant funding, allowed the committee to finish painting the exterior of the Center and Hall and install new flooring in the Center, Reibin said.
Another acknowledgement went to Wendy Chernoff, treasurer, “or General as we sometimes refer to her and everyone needs one of them in every organization. Wendy spends countless hours doing the finances, applying for grants and keeping us motivated,” Reibin said.
After supper a “surprise visitor” appeared at the Hall. Reibin’s character, Katrina, arrived with her colourful, trademark costume and repertoire of side-splitting jokes delivered with a heavy Ukrainian accent.
Taking to the stage, Katrina quipped, “Men think that it’s every woman’s dream to find a good man, but really, every woman’s dream is to eat without getting fat.”
Delivering another joke, which brought on much laughter from the crowd, Katrina said, “How come what happens in Wegas (Vegas), stays in Wegas, but what happens in Weregin (Veregin) sure gets around fast?”
The event included a cash bar and the sale of 50/50 tickets. The winner of the draw received $530.
The Committee is already planning their next fundraiser, and Reibin encourages everyone wishing to continue to support the Hall to remember that the fourth annual shishliki supper will be served at the hall sometime in April.
Proceeds of the fundraisers go towards ongoing improvements at the Hall. “There’s still lots to do,” she said.
“This year marks the 75th anniversary of the annual Veregin Shishliki Barbecue,” Reibin concluded. “The Rec Board and our community are hoping all of you will come and help us celebrate this milestone with some good food, drink and hopefully music, in June.”
