By: Nicole Shih, Telegram, August 21, 2021
SHREWSBURY — On a sunny Saturday morning, Barbara Paszuk, driving her black Hyundai Santa Fe, rolled down her window and accepted a raffle basket from Sheriff Lew Evangelidis as one of the seven winners out of more than 800 seniors at the annual Sheriff’s Senior Picnic at SAC Park on Lake Street.
The raffle basket includes lottery tickets, T-shirts and cups from the sheriff’s office.
“I was overwhelmed! He just came and said, ‘You won a basket.’ Oh my God!” Paszuk, 77, of Leicester said excitedly, adding that she has attended the annual picnic for years.
Paszuk came to the drive-through senior picnic with her good friend Rena Doyle from the Leicester Senior Center.
The event was hosted by Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis. This was his 11th senior picnic since he was elected in 2011.
“For me personally, it’s a very special job,” Evangelidis said. “I’m from Worcester. My family’s all been raised here. I love this community. And for me, it’s just a way to give back as an association, particularly to seniors who have given so much.”
