Bake sale aids Ukraine
WINFIELD TWP — People lined up in the parking lot of Cabot United Methodist Church, 707 Winfield Road, Saturday before the 9 a.m. opening of a bake sale to benefit the people of Ukraine.
They came for the cakes, cookies, biscotti and other baked goods, and a chance to bid on raffle baskets, but they also came to help Ukrainians driven from their homeland by the fighting, said co-organizers of the event, Leigh Baxter of Winfield Township and Pam Howryla of Ford City.
The two friends, both from England, organized the event — which ran from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday — in eight days, according to Howryla.
“I was horrified with what I was seeing daily,” Baxter said. “I called my best friend, Pam, and said ‘What are you doing on the 19th?’
“Her husband’s grandparents were Ukrainian,” she said. “The response was fabulous. We got amazing support.”
Baxter said she called the church about using their parking lot.
The Rev. Jonathan Fehl, pastor of Cabot United Methodist, said the church was glad to help.
“Leigh Baxter reached out to us. We thought it would be a fantastic opportunity to support those who are suffering in Ukraine,” Fehl said. “It was a simple thing to say yes to.
“And through our networks, our food bank, our fish fry — we got the word out,” he said. “This puts some action along with our prayers.”
Baxter said individuals and businesses donated baked goods, gift certificates and baskets to be raffled.
“I used up all my favors. Everybody wants to help,” Baxter said. “It doesn’t matter what race, religion or political standpoint you have. Butler County residents, communities and businesses came through.”
Butler County businesses and the Butler County Tourism Foundation pitched in with donations of tents, tables, gift certificates and auction baskets, featuring chocolate, gift certificates to local businesses and Penguins tickets.
Just as gratifying as the donations has been the response from the public, Howryla said.
Baxter said, “The parking lot has been full all morning. They were here before we had it all set up this morning.”
The bake sale’s proceeds will benefit ShelterBox, an international disaster recovery organization that will use the funds to provide Ukrainians with necessities such as food, water, blankets, clothing and medical supplies, according to Baxter and Howryla.
A separate tent was taking donations to benefit rescue groups working to get pets left behind in Ukraine out of the country and perhaps be reunited with their owners.
Sarah Faletti of Millville was helping at one of the tables, which offered teddy bears, birdhouses, pet treats and raffle baskets to raise money to fund the rescue operations and provide food for saved pets.
“I used to work with Leigh,” Faletti said.
Early morning showers had given away to a partly sunny sky in the late afternoon.
Carle Leibold of Valencia said, “I thought I would come and support the Ukrainians and buy some biscotti. It’s a nice day to be outside.”
Three sisters from Cabot, Bert Zema, Linda Heim and Jean Koller, were bent over the hood of a car filling out raffle tickets.
“I attend this church, but no one who knows what’s going on in Ukraine can not feel the need to help in some way,” Heim said.
