Celebrating family and heritage, National Pierogy Day flag rises over borough hall
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - Chris Dende, vice president of human resources at Ateeco, Inc., makers of Mrs. T's Pierogies, emcees the National Pierogy Day flag raising at Shenandoah Borough Hall on Oct. 8, 2025.
SHENANDOAH – A day dedicated to one of Shenandoah’s culinary staples was celebrated with a flag raising at borough hall Wednesday morning.
“This is a day that we reflect and we think about our cultural heritage,” Chris Dende, vice president of human resources at Ateeco, Inc., makers of Mrs. T’s Pierogies, said.
Oct. 8 marks National Pierogy Day. Mrs. T’s established the day about two decades ago to commemorate the day Ted Twardzik, Sr., made his first sale. That sale was to the Capitol Food Store, at the time located on North Main Street in downtown Shenandoah.
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – Chris Dende, vice president of human resources at Ateeco, Inc., makers of Mrs. T’s Pierogies, emcees the National Pierogy Day flag raising at Shenandoah Borough Hall on Oct. 8, 2025. 
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – The National Pierogy Day flag flies over Shenandoah Borough Hall. 
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – A group of attendees, borough officials and Ateeco staff members pose for a photo before the flag raising.
The Shenandoah-based company has grown to distribute their product nationwide.
“The mission of our pierogies is to make people smile when they hear our name,” Dende said.
“This is a day to celebrate those who make homemade pierogies. This is a day to celebrate family, bringing people together, we need more of that,” Dende added.
Just over a dozen people stopped by for the flag-raising at borough hall Wednesday morning, an annual tradition.
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