Fundraiser at Lee Gribbens to Support Oklahoma Tornado Victims

Dina Valentine Wanamaker is not from around these parts and that’s kind of the whole point.

The owner of My Grandmother’s Table, a catering business soon to have a new physical local in Slatington, Wanamaker has organized a charity auction and vendor event to benefit the victims of the recent tornado in Oklahoma.

Her event, which has garnered the support of countless businesses in the East Penn area and beyond, is set to take place Monday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Lee Gribbens in Emmaus.

Wanamaker says she felt she needed to try to help the Oklahoma tornado victims because she believes that the world is a “village” and what happens in places like Oklahoma impacts the Lehigh Valley.

Wanamaker says she felt she needed to try to help the Oklahoma tornado victims because she believes that the world is a “village” and what happens in places like Oklahoma impacts the Lehigh Valley.

“I honestly believe we are a village and if we don’t help each other, we won’t get anywhere,” she says. In particular, Wanamaker says, she was moved to do something by the TV footage of the woman who found her missing dog during an interview in the rubble after the tornado. “That woman broke my heart,” she recalls.

So, Wanamaker reached out to business people in the area – folks like Donna Hosfield from Macungie and Helping Hands Massage in Emmaus – and a fundraiser was born.

Tickets to the event – which are $25 per person -- can be purchased online and the potential guests can peruse the list of more than 20 items that will be auctioned during the fundraiser. Those who cannot make it to the auction can also make a online donation to the cause.