Greek community event raises money for people in need

Everyone is welcome to the annual Ladies of Philoptochos Greek Women’s Bazaar

Every year in early November the Ladies of Philoptochos of the Hellenic Association in Calgary host a special event known as the Greek Women’s Bazaar.

Philoptochos in Greek means friends of the poor. The group of women work on this event for over a month organizing volunteers, soliciting sponsors and preparing food.

Diana Tatoulis, President of the Ladies of Philoptochos, says some years they are running out of food and other years they give leftovers to the Calgary Drop-In and Rehab Centre.

Though Greek food is the main attraction, there are also crafts for sale with all funds going to various charities. In previous years the event has raised money for Slave Lake victims, the Cancer Society, and various third-world countries.

Event-goers got a little taste of Greece; everything from spanakopita, a traditional Greek pastry with spinach and Greek coffee was available.

Sakis Kallas and his family have been attending the event “for a long time,” and he says, “the event gets better and better every year.”

This event was held on Nov. 2nd and 3rd. The next major event for the Greek community is the Greek Festival, which is held annually in June.

sgalley@cjournal.ca