For many years, packages of pierogi sold by St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church have been a culinary favourite for many Saultites.
In fact, the church - located on St. Georges Avenue East - has often been referred to as 'the church that pierogi built.'
Money raised from sales of pierogi - prepared and packaged in the church’s basement kitchen - go directly to the church building’s maintenance costs.
Such a mission requires a dedicated cook and team of volunteers.
“It's an awesome assembly line,” said church cook Rick Nelson in praise of his volunteers during an interview with SooToday.
Preparation of large quantities of pierogi by Nelson and the volunteers takes place at the church every Thursday from 7 a.m. to noon and is a long process, Nelson said.
“It starts on Tuesday when I peel 60 pounds of potatoes," he added. "On Wednesday I chop them up, boil them when I get here at 5 a.m. on Thursday morning, I roll out the dough and cut it in circles with the guys in the kitchen.
"The ladies roll them up with cheese, bring them back to me, I boil them in the kitchen with the guys and send them back out. Then they get packaged and sent to the refrigerator.”
Nelson provides lunch for the hard working volunteers after the day’s work is done.
The team prepares 140 dozen pierogi each Thursday, Nelson said.
Some of them are sent to RJ's Market while the rest are stored in freezers at the church and are available for sale to the public from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
On other days, Nelson, with a smaller team, prepares borscht (meatless beet soup), approximately 100 dozen cabbage rolls per week, lasagna, meatballs, meat sticks (pork kebabs) and Italian sausage patties for sale at the church.
Nelson, a Sault native, has worked in the food industry - first as a server, then as a cook - for 35 years.
He has been cooking at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church for 19 years.
The need for more food preparation volunteers so that the church can keep operating cannot be overstated, Nelson said.
“Without this kitchen, without our volunteers, we close," he added.
"On a good day we’ll have 15 ladies helping but sometimes I only have eight ladies preparing 1,300 pierogi. For a good day I need 12 guys in the kitchen.”
The volunteer team consists of only a few St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church parishioners. Most of the volunteers are retired community members who enjoy staying active and socializing over food preparation.
“They laugh. They have a riot. They get out and it's a nice day for them,” Nelson said.
No prior food preparation experience is required to be a volunteer.
“I train them. One lady came in to volunteer here for the first time last week. She had never made a cabbage roll in her life. Now she’s making them like a pro,” Nelson said.
For more information on St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church’s food program and sales, or to express interest in becoming a volunteer, individuals can call 705 942-1377 or contact the church through email.
