Katie's Spirits Partners with Local Businesses for Dexter Relief Fund Dinner

Following a four-hour blitz of food, fun and music, the staff at in Dexter is poised to donate more than $2,000 to the Dexter Relief Fund.

Patrons lined out the door Monday evening hoping to grab a seat for the event, which included a spaghetti dinner, 50/50 raffle and live music.

"I wish we could've done more," Angela Kitchen, general manager of Katie's said. "When you're sitting on the outside, you can't comprehend what some of these people affected by the tornado must be going through. It's a sad situation."

Kitchen said she was happy to organize the event, and credits her staff as well as local businesses for its success.

"Bar manager Eric Galdes and the staff at Katie's really deserve the credit," she said. "I'm really impressed with how much time they donated and how much work they put into making the fundraiser a success. The employees at Katie's see Dexter as their home and this community as their home. The customers are part of a big family, and my employees would jump on the band wagon immediately to help anybody."

Galdes, who moved to Dexter from Chicago last month, said watching the community come together after the has been inspiring.

"I was out clearing brush from lawns the day after the tornado hit, and I thought that holding a benefit was the least we could do to help out," he said. "It's been moving to see everyone chip in, I'm just honored to be a part of it."

Galdes said the bar received several compliments from patrons who attended the fundraiser.

"Everything went off without a hitch. The overall atmosphere was fun. It was nice seeing folks enjoy themselves, talk with their neighbors, and get their mind off of the tornado for a few hours," he said.

Kitchen said several businesses were instrumental to the fundraiser, including , Trotter Group LLC., Ann Arbor Sanitation, , Gordon Food Service, Diversified Contracting & Preservation, as well as the Village of Dexter, who expedited permits for the event.

Travis Otto, owner of Diversified Contracting & Preservation, said as a lifelong resident of Dexter, helping out at the fundraiser seemed like a natural fit.

"When I heard (Katie's) was putting on the fundraiser, I asked, 'What do you need?' I happen to have plenty of tables and chairs, so I was more than willing to donate those," he said.

Teri Trotter of Trotter Group LLC, donated the spaghetti sauce, bread and salad for the event.

"It was nice to be able to pull everyone together to help out the community," Trotter said. "The whole evening was a lot of fun."

Kitchen said Katie's will present a check to the Dexter Relief Fund in the near future once all totals have been finalized.