Cheers and Gratitude to the Organizers and Supporters of the 2nd Annual ‘It Takes a Vinograd’ Wine Tasting Event On Saturday, November 2nd, 2024, the St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church Hall in Merrillville, Indiana, hosted the 2nd Annual ‘It Takes a Vinograd’ Wine Tasting Event, a memorable evening that brought together friends, community members, and supporters to raise funds for the important work of Our Serbs. This annual fundraiser was an outstanding success, with helping others at its heart. V. Rev. Aleksandar Novakovic started the evening with prayer and special words and thoughts about helping others. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the event’s dedicated organizers: Radmila Sarac, Jasminka Sarac, Sonja Beader members of St. Elijah’s Kolo Circle of Sisters and Sandy Savic Wojtowicz. Their efforts, along with the generous support of all who attended, made this event a beautiful celebration of community, charity, and camaraderie. The wine tasting portion of the evening was generously supported by wine donations and accompanied by a delectable buffet spread of appetizers and foods, all lovingly arranged by board member Sonja Beader. The night was made even sweeter by a fabulous dessert table, showcasing delicious treats that were shared among all the guests. Wines were donated by Opolo Vineyards, Trader Joe’s, Plavinac Wine from Smederevo, Srbija, Savic Winery, Scott’s Wine Napa Valley, and wine from “Le Crotte”. During the event, Our Serbs President Kathy Fanslow was presented with a special picture, designed to honor the many projects completed by Our Serbs. It was titled, Kathy Fanslow, Making a Difference for Our Serbs in Serbia and KIM. The graphic artwork illustrated the locations and impact of these initiatives, which include everything from providing critical resources like farming supplies and computers to offering educational opportunities for those in need. Perhaps most notably, Our Serbs has been instrumental in funding the land and water source for the town of Gračanica in Kosovo, among many other projects. An auction table featured a variety of unique and valuable items, including jewelry from Serbian monasteries, brandy from Serbia and Kosovo, artwork, and even a signed D.J. Moore Chicago Bears T-shirt. These items were bid on with enthusiasm, and the proceeds will directly benefit future Our Serbs initiatives. Our Serbs also showcased a selection of current and upcoming projects, including the much-needed housing transition dorms for teenagers aging out of orphanages in Pasi Poljana, Serbia. This collaborative project with the Serbian Church will provide these young adults with a stable, supportive place to live and transition into independence. All proceeds from the event’s donations will go directly to furnishing these homes, offering these teenagers a real opportunity for a brighter future. This special evening would not have been possible without the dedication and generosity of Radmila Sarac, Jasminka Sarac, Sonja Beader, Sandy Savic Wojtowicz, and all those who donated their time, resources, and financial support to ensure the success of this event. Your kindness will make a lasting impact on those in need and continues to uphold the values of compassion, community, and service that are at the core of Our Serbs’ mission. Thank you again to everyone who contributed to making this event such a meaningful success. Your support truly makes a difference, and together, we are helping to create lasting change for individuals and communities in need. (Thank you Our Serbs Vice President , Vesna Zafirovski for photos and details about the event and Aleksandar Zigic for videos. With deepest gratitude, Our Serbs Team
