In North Port, Florida, the Ukrainian community came together to celebrate Easter week with traditional hayrides. The spring games and dances were not only a celebration for the Ukrainian community, but also an act of support for Ukraine's wounded defenders. The event was organized by Revived Soldiers Ukraine and aimed to raise funds for the treatment and prosthetics of soldiers currently undergoing rehabilitation in the United States.
This was reported by Revived Soldiers Ukraine.
According to the organizers, the guests of honor at the event were severely wounded Ukrainian soldiers: Svitlana Bila (3rd separate assault brigade), Dmytro Nyshchyk (42nd mechanized brigade) and Volodymyr Kuzmenko and Stanislav Zoriy from the 8th special forces regiment.
Together with the volunteers and children, the participants and guests danced, sang spring songs and symbolically welcomed spring far from home, but with Ukraine in their hearts.
The Revived Soldiers Ukraine team from Chicago prepared an eventful program. The event was accompanied by performances of the Ethnos dance ensemble under the direction of Natalia Figel. A special event was the performance of Mykhailo Boichyk with the trembita, known as the "Chicago trembitar". The event was also attended by young artists such as the duo Chados and the singer Yana Dovhaichuk. The event was emceed by Mariana Balash.
The event raised $6,000, which will be used to treat military personnel under the Revived Soldiers Ukraine program.
The organizers thanked the parish of St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church in North Port and Father Dmytro for their help in organizing the event, as well as the team of volunteers: Vasyl Matviychuk, Olena Babayan, Irena Strilka, Mariana Balash, Tetyana Levchenko.
"We believe that these Easter groves will become an annual tradition, combining cultural heritage, community unity and support for those who are fighting for our freedom," the organizers said.
Author: Inna Mikhno