Murrysville church preps for volunteers to sew Christmas stockings for troops
In 2018, Penn Hills nonprofit Military Connections stuffed and shipped about 11,000 Christmas stockings filled with snacks and supplies to troops stationed across the globe.
Roughly 5,000 of them came from a group of volunteers who create the stockings all year long, then come together for a full day of sewing at Murrysville Alliance Church.
“It’s a great day,” said Margaret “Rusty” Frankoski, who had nearly 4,500 stockings already boxed up in her basement on July 16. “We serve lunch, and veterans from the church help carry the sewing machines in and set up the sewing tables.”
This year’s sewing day will take place on Aug. 22, and Frankoski said she’s confident the group will end up with well over 5,000 stockings.
“Last year we had 102 volunteers,” she said. “It was our best year so far.”
Volunteers are asked to bring their own sewing machine, extension cord and basic sewing supplies. They will be provided with stocking patterns and the material to create them.
The sewing day, sponsored by the American Sewing Guild and Military Connections, has been happening for about a decade, Frankoski said.
“It’s really wonderful to help our military who are overseas in harm’s way,” she said.
The sewing day will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the church, 4130 Old William Penn Highway in Murrysville.
To volunteer, RSVP to 724-327-8918 or 724-468-3932.
For more on donations to cover shipping costs or donations to help stuff the stockings, email militaryconnections@hotmail.com.
Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at pvarine@triblive.com.
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