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Ukrainian Arts and Crafts Display at the Wethersfield Cultural Celebration. Left to right: Luba Kinach (President of UNWLA Branch 106), Lesia Szewczuk, Alexander Pryshlak (Coordinator), Anya Szewczuk, Valentina Chudowsky, Nadia Haftkowycz. large map and photographs of some principal Ukrainian cities. A large UKRAINE sign and two blue and yellow flags identified our booth which was uncluttered and tastefully artistic. Having been assured that the gymnasium would be locked up for the night and that our treasures were safe, we left for home to get ready for the next day's food fair. On Saturday afternoon, we drove up to the entrance of the school cafeteria and began unloading large pots and pans with 30 dozen varenyky, 150 holubtsi and 12 quarts of borshch. There were also a variety of sweet concoctions that only good Ukrainian "hospodyni" can produce. A few of the husbands, after a lot of pleading and promises that this would be the very last time, came along to help. While we were busy setting up the large chafing pans (borrowed from a caterer friend) and starting the heating process, there was a commotion at the cafeteria entrance. Huge vans and trucks had arrived, displaying colorful signs: Polonia Restaurant, Amici's Italian Bakery, Greek Specialties and others. Large coolers, display cases and racks upon racks of trays were wheeled in and set up in strategic parts of the cafeteria. "Oy Hospode!" we gasped. "With all of this, who is going to be interested in what little we have to offer?" A little intimidated, but undeterred, we decided the show must go on. Meanwhile, two of our lady volunteers, dressed in embroidered blouses and smiling pleasantly, were manning the artistic display in the gym. Anya, the sixteen year old daughter of one of our members presented a striking picture in her costume from the Poltava region and distributed leaflets providing information about Ukraine and about the display items. The heavy rain did not seem to deter anyone; visitors, some from the neighboring states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York, crowded around the tables. When the cafeteria doors opened at 4 p.m., there was no end to the number of hungry people coming through. Our food booth, was the first one at the entrance, decked out in embroidered scarfs and staffed by ladies in crisp embroidered blouses. But people just looked, smiled politely, and walked away, enticed by the big flashy displays of the other booths. A few Ukrainians came to buy and little by little others stopped, looked, began asking questions about the ingredients and bought a few samples. We learned quickly that whoever said "word of mouth is the best advertisement" was right. In no time at all, long lines formed around our booth and we didn't have enough hands to dole out the hot foods and pastries. While we served, we fielded questions and comments. "What did you put in these varenyky? They look like pierogis, but they taste so much better" or "Let me have another cup of that red soup. I've never tasted anything like it" or "I'll take a couple of these cabbage rolls home to my wife. They're great." The medyanyk, plum filled cake, Vienna squares and other goodies disappeared. Within a frantic three hours all our supplies were gone and people were walking away in disappointment. In spite of our throbbing feet and aching backs we were a happy group. Cleaning up, we thought ahead to "next time", vowing to get more volunteers and to prepare at least twice as much food. The satisfaction we had derived and the good will we created, not to mention the nifty bundle stashed away in our bank account, were well worth all the effort. Видання C оюзу Українок A мерики - перевидано в електронному форматі в 2012 році . A рхів C У A - Ню Йорк , Н . Й . C Ш A.
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