Community turns out for spaghetti dinner, basket raffle for Crystal Hand
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Rose Allen calls out the winning ticket for one of 84 baskets up for raffle today during a benefit at the QWL building on Washington Street.
Crystal Hand
The community turned out to support Crystal Hand and her family. She suffered serious injuries in Nov. 21 accident when another driver crossed the center line and hit her car on Route 31A in Clarendon.
Allen coordinated today’s spaghetti dinner, basket raffle and 50/50 drawing. Allen said Hand is an active volunteer in the community as PTA president in the elementary school, treasurer of the Music Boosters and a Girl Scout leader.
Hand attended the benefit in a wheelchair while she recovers from a broken leg. She also broke her left arm, suffered a concussion and has nerve damage. She was joined at the benefit by her husband Matt and their three daughters: Samantha, Al and Rianne.
“I’m just overwhelmed,” Hand said after the benefit. “This town never ceases to amaze me, how it comes together to help a family in need.”
Samantha Croft cooks spaghetti in the kitchen. There were 250 spaghetti dinners served today.
Angie Wolfe, an Albion elementary teacher, was among the many volunteers for the event. Wolfe is a breast cancer survivor and said a benefit to help her in September 2018 made a big difference in her fight with cancer.
“The emotional support is the biggest thing,” Wolfe said. “To know you have all these people behind you is wonderful.”
Wolfe said Hand has been a key supporter of children in the community through the PTA, Music Boosters and Girl Scouts.
“Crystal goes above and beyond for everyone else,” Wolfe said. “We just want to help her family.”
Jeff Andrews and his dad Chuck are in line for spaghetti. They are served by, in front, Paul Bachorski, followed by Rhonda Grammatico, Rhiannon Moody and Matt Grammatico.
There were 84 baskets donated for the raffle. This photo was taken after the bigger crowds were at the QWL. The event was from noon to 3 p.m.
Crystal Hand posted this message on Facebook this evening: “Words cannot express how thankful, humbled and overwhelmed I am by this amazing community. I cannot thank everyone enough for the love and support I have received the last three months since the accident.
“The outpouring of love my family has received has been a godsend. I am brought to tears just thinking of all the people who have helped, prayed, reached out, donated, brought food, flowers, cards and the amazing spaghetti dinner benefit.
“I have so many heroes in this community. I will not name them all because it will be a huge list. You all are forever in my heart. The only way I know how to repay all of you is to pay it forward as soon as I am back on my feet. My family and I thank you from the bottoms of our hearts. We love our community and we are grateful.”