Daughters of Penelope Ottawa marks 31st Annual Palm Sunday Lunch

Following the Divine Liturgy on April 17, the Ottawa Daughters of Penelope (DOP) Euphrosyne Chapter #292 hosted its annual Palm Sunday Lunch for the Hellenic Community of Ottawa (HCO), in collaboration with Kouzina Ottawa and The Monastery of the Virgin Mary of Consolation, at the Hellenic Events Center. The event is the chapter’s signature annual fundraiser benefiting the Scholarship Fund. Due to the pandemic, it was the second year in a row that it was celebrated with the online pre-ordering with curbside pickup format as compared to previous years when it was a formal sit-down luncheon for the HCO and guests. The annual scholarships will be awarded in May.

The Palm Sunday Lunch menu featured fish plaki plates, fish stick plates, Sister Gisele Reklitis’ famous halva dessert, and wines. Included with each order was a chance to win one of four randomly drawn prizes donated by the chapter sisterhood, a DOP Celebrating Pascha pamphlet describing the meaning, customs and traditions of each day of Holy Week, the meaning of red eggs and tsougrisma as well as Easter recipes, and blue and yellow napkins in support of Ukraine. Special thanks to the Palm Sunday Lunch Committee, Chair Jenny Papadopoulos and Sisters Cathy Pantieras, Felecha Eftaxias, Irene Aimoniotis, Pauline Pavlounis, and Tassy Lyras for organizing the event, John Karadakis and Gregory Sokos for preparing the meals and Lee Hebb, Manager of the Hellenic Events Center.

The event was well supported and the chapter was happy to celebrate this special day with the families of the HCO. The chapter said in a statement via e-mail: “We greatly appreciate everyone’s support and donations for our signature annual event for the HCO and scholarship program for our youth and wish you all Χριστός Ανέστη και Χρόνια Πολλά!”