SHENANDOAH - It was a beautiful day for a family picnic Sunday afternoon as Ateeco Inc., manufacturer of Mrs. T's Pierogies, invited its neighbors to the seventh annual Mrs. T's Community Picnic in the parking lot behind the plant near Herald Road.
"It's a tight-knit community," Company President Tom Twardzik said. "Mrs. T's is a family-owned company and we treat this like we are having a family picnic."
Twardzik is a son of the company founder, Ted Twardzik Sr., and a grandson of Mary Twardzik, a k a "Mrs. T."
"This has been our home since my father started the business," Twardzik said. "So many people have done so much for us and a few years ago we found a way to give back."
The event featured food, entertainment and family activities. New this year was the Mrs. T's Photo Booth, an old-style boardwalk booth that takes photos in black and white or color.
The picnic was free to all in attendance, but tickets were required for admission. Tickets were available at local businesses prior to the event.
"We wanted to find a way to give back to the community and try to promote as many local businesses as possible," Wayne Holben, Ateeco public relations manager, said.
Holben said about 1,200 tickets were available. He said the picnic has grown each year and there were more people at the event earlier than previous years.
Twenty-three Ateeco employees volunteered at the picnic while Hess Catering Inc., Schuylkill Haven, provided the food.
Kristen Brzoska, Mahanoy City, came to the picnic for the first time with her children.
"It's good for the kids," she said.
"I'm thrilled that people came out," Twardzik said. "It's so gratifying for us. They make it worthwhile. Their thank-yous fuel us to keep going."