The staff at Evans Prairie Country Club Sunday morning was dishing out ham, grits, scrambled eggs and plenty of love.
It was all part of a benefit for Lacey Klein, general manager of the club, who was severely injured in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident on June 28. Hundreds of people turned out Sunday to pay $25 each for a special brunch buffet. The food and staff services were donated, and Fred Karimipour – owner of the country club – said he would match every dollar raised. Money was still coming in Sunday evening, but over $17,000 had been raised.
“Lacey is part of our family and we’ll do whatever we can to help her,” said Karimipour, a Villages’ resident who continues to pay Klein’s salary and health care insurance. “Lacey is a special person and this is an opportunity for everybody who works here to come together for her.”
Klein was hospitalized nearly three weeks and is now getting special medical care at home. She was filled with emotion over Sunday’s outpouring of friendship and generosity.
“What Fred, the staff and everyone at Evans Prairie did for me was amazing; above and beyond anything I expected,” Klein, 44, said in a telephone interview. “And I can’t say enough about the people in The Villages who turned out to help me, even though many of them don’t even know me. I want to thank all of them.”
Those who did not attend but want to help can donate online at www.GiveForward.com, search Lacey Klein or go to http:gfwd.at/1InZuP8
Klein is a single parent of a daughter named Katie, 14. She has no family in the area and had been working at Evans for about a year. On the first day of her vacation, Klein said she was nearly killed in the accident, when a car side-swiped the motorcycle she was riding on, which was then hit by a truck.
She said she suffered numerous injuries, including a broken back, broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and two broken collar bones. She added that part of the left side of her face was crushed and her left eye was badly injured. She expects to have plastic surgery to repair her face.
“I’ve gone through a lot of pain,” she said. “It really hurt my daughter when she first saw me in the hospital. It was the first time she ever saw me like that. But she’s getting better and stronger, and so am I.”
The accident has changed Klein.
“From now on, I’m going to slow down and enjoy everyday of my life,” she said. “I appreciate everything I have and I know I’m lucky to be alive. I can’t wait to get back to work with all my friends.”
The staff at Prairie Evans made numerous trips to the hospital and to Klein’s home. They have brought food, messages and lots of companionship.
“We miss her here; she’s a good manager and a caring person,” said Dana Johnson, who serves food at the country club. “Lacey could be tough, you’ve got to be in this business but she always tried to make things better for the staff and the customers.”
Klein’s toughness will help her recover, Johnson believes.
“Lacey is a fighter and she will keep on fighting,” she said.
Jay Hall, kitchen manager at the club, agreed.
“Lacey could be a tough boss and but she showed everybody here real kindness,” said Hall, who came to work at 5 a.m. Sunday to start cooking for Lacey’s brunch benefit. “What happened to Lacey really hit home for me. I ride a motorcycle to work every day. An accident like that can happen to anybody and all of us who work here wanted to let Lacey know she is not alone.”
Karaoke singer Joe Perico volunteered to sing songs as hundreds of people lined up for buffet meals. He was offering such tunes as “Mack the Knife” and “Summer Wind” as the hungry and caring customers made donations and filled their plates.
“This is such a beautiful thing to see all these people coming out to help Lacey,” Perico said. “I’m here for her and so is everyone else.”
Even the customers were ready to do their part.
“We know Lacey because we come here a lot and she always went out of her way to be nice to us,” said Bob Fracassi, who came to the benefit with his daughter, Merlene Magyar. “She’s very personable and was always in good spirits.”
Fracassi, who lives in The Villages, drove to an Ocala hospital to see Klein. “I know she was in a lot of pain and her lung was hurting. But she was glad to see me. I felt a lot better seeing her and I’ll do whatever I can to help her.”
Babe Rogers and about 15 other members of the newly formed Villages Hometown Civitan Club showed up to offer support.
“We want Lacey to know we care about her,” Rogers said. “In our club, we like to make a difference one person at a time. Lacey is one person but she means a lot to everyone who is here today.”
Pam and Al Falkenstein of Bonnybrook never met Klein but wanted to help. “This is what The Villages is all about,” Pam said. “We’re a community that comes together to help each other in a time of need.”
It took time for some of the staff to digest the remarkable turnout to help Lacey Klein.
“It’s hard to believe this is happening, I never expected this many people,” said Karimipour, president of Fresh Made Kitchen, which also operates the country clubs at Orange Blossom Hills, Bonifay, Belle Glade, in addition to Scooples Ice Cream Parlor. He said people were coming to the club at 7:30 in the morning with donations, even though it had yet to serve any food.
“They didn’t want to come in and eat, they just wanted to make a donation,” Karimipour said. “It’s wonderful to see this. It kind of restores your faith in people,”
Paulie Villareal, community relations manager for Fresh Made Kitchen, felt the same way.
“We never expected such abundant generosity,” he said. “People just want to reach out to Lacey.”
Lacey Klein was emotionally moved by the response.
“When this many people go out of their way to help you, it’s very special,” she said in a soft voice. “It makes you feel very blessed.”
