Benefit for Katy McDaniel raises almost $3,000; GoFundMe page started for those who couldn't attend

The band Veljeeta was part of the entertainment at the benefit at Northside Elementary School. Dan Trisko is at left.

Story and photos by Megan Parsons
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

Midway residents, friends and family of Katy McDaniel gathered Sunday for a benefit at Northside Elementary School. McDaniel was stabbed 26 times at her home on Oct. 6 and faces a challenging recovery.

Organizers estimated the attendance at about 150.

“This is another great example of what this community does,” Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said in an interview.

The event raised almost $3,000, according to the mayor’s wife, Katie Vandegrift. She estimated that around 150 people showed up in support of McDaniel.

The benefit included a blood drive by Kentucky Blood Center, concerts by Veljeeta featuring Sherri Dan and Jeff from Velvet Elvis, musician Maggie Lander and band Boogie G and the Titanics; a card creation station for Katy and her daughter Lily, set up by the Woodford County Library; and an ice cream cone station provided by Railroad Drug & Old Time Soda Fountain.

Dan Trisko, a member of the band Velvet Elvis, and friend and former bandmate of McDaniel’s father, Scott Stoess, was one of the organizers of the event, along with Katie Vandegrift.

Children and adults made about a dozen cards for Katy McDaniel
and her daughter, Lily, at a station set up by the Midway library.

“As soon as I heard about it, I immediately thought I’m going to call all my friends and let’s put on a show to raise some money for Katy and her family,” Trisko said. “I was just like everybody else, gob-smacked when this happened and knew I just wanted to do something to help.”

Stoess, McDaniel’s father, said in an interview that McDaniel is “improving every day” and he hopes she will be able to come home soon, but will need some outpatient procedures even after her release.

“Katy’s mother, Ilene, and I would like to thank Midway residents for their generous support,” Stoess said. ”It’s been overwhelming. We’d also like to thank the local fire and police departments, as well as the hospital staff for saving our daughter’s life.”

The Midway Branch of the Woodford County Library set up a station for adults and children to make cards for McDaniel and her daughter, Lily. A few dozen cards and crafts were made, organizers said.

“Katie Vandegrift asked if we wanted to set up a table to make cards,” said branch manager and City Council Member Stacy Thurman. She noted that Katy and Lily are patrons of the library: “We know them and would love to do that for them.”

Many conversations at the benefit included how great a person Katy is and how shocked the community was to hear about the attack.

Katy McDaniel (Photo from benefit concert poster)

“Katy is a great person, a loving mom and always would stop and chat. It was a big shock to us and the community that this happened,” said neighbors Nathan and Hope Craig. “It just proves that there are no warning signs for something like this and it’s made our community more aware, to always check on your neighbors.”

McDaniel’s husband, Doug McDaniel, has been charged with attempted murder.

Mick Barfield, who was a co-worker of McDaniel’s at the Origin Hotel Lexington, said she is a great manager of the restaurant 33 Staves in the hotel.

“She is a great leader, very efficient and great with the customers,” Barfield said. “When I first heard, it didn’t seem real I thought it was a rumor. I called Dan, one of the band members performing tonight, immediately to see if it was real.”

The Kentucky Blood Center also conducted a blood drive during the event. The drive had between 25 to 30 donors, which is maximum capacity, Katie Vandegrift said.

One donor was a friend of McDaniel’s, Mark Morrow. He said, “I can’t do much for Katy, but donating blood was a way I felt like I could help.”

A GoFundMe account has been set up for McDaniel, for those who were unable to attend the benefit. As of 10:45 p.m. Sunday, it had raised more than $69,000 of its $75,000 goal.