WESTPORT — A celebration to thank local volunteers and donors who rallied to support Lyman, Westport’s sister city in Ukraine, is planned Sunday.

The “LymanAID” event will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 9, at the Ukrainian-American Club, 279 Kings Drive in the Southport section of Fairfield.

The gathering is free and open to anyone interested in attending, according to organizers. There also are “VIP” tickets for sale, with perks such as reserved seating, a commemorative gift and open bar. Register to attend or to purchase VIP tickets by clicking here.

LymanAID is planned in recognition of those who have donated money and supplies to Lyman, a city in the besieged Donetsk region of Ukraine, which was officially proclaimed a sister city of Westport in January.

That sister city relationship, and a Westport fundraising campaign that raised $252,000 for Lyman, was fostered by Ukraine Aid International, a nonprofit established by Westport natives and brothers, Brian and Marshall Mayer.

Local donations have helped UAI pay for building supplies, communications equipment, trash and garbage trucks, bulletproof vests for utility workers, hot meals and more. 

The organization also has promoted sister city ties between area communities such as Easton, Weston, Fairfield, Stamford, Greenwich and Ridgefield, and communities in Ukraine.

Speakers at Sunday’s event will include First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker, who along with Police Chief Foti Koskinas and Easton First Selectman David Bindelglass, recently toured their towns’ respective cities in Ukraine, Lyman and Sviatohirsk. The trip was arranged by Ukraine Aid International.

Others scheduled to speak are U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick, Bindelglass and, via telelink from Ukraine, Lyman Mayor Alexander Zhuravlov.

There also will be free refreshments, games and music performed by the Mike McGovern Band.

In addition, there will be fundraising to support continued aid to Ukraine, including a raffle, treasure sale, Yankee auction, coffee table book pull, plant sale and more.

Cost of the party has been privately underwritten, according to organizers.