Ed Gorczyca, president of the Polish American Patriot Club in South Wheeling, stands in front of the Our Lady of Grace Grotto and Polish War Memorial on Eoff Street, where a Polish Mass will be held at noon Sunday as part of Polish Heritage Day. (Photo by Shelley Hanson)

The 15th annual Polish Heritage Day is slated to be celebrated Sunday in South Wheeling with a traditional dinner.

A dinner featuring Polish foods, polka music, beer and more will take place at the Polish American Patriot Club, 4410 Jacob St., Wheeling. The dinner is from 1-6 p.m. and costs $20 per plate, which includes kielbasa, pierogies, cabbage rolls, dessert and one drink ticket.

Ed Gorczyca, president of the PAP Club, said the club, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2019, began holding Polish Day 14 years ago.

“I just thought being Polish it would be a good thing to bring attention to the Polish heritage,” he said. “And one of the reasons is because I’ve got a whole wall full of pictures that go clear back, as far as the club is concerned, to when I was a bat boy for the PAP club baseball team. I was 9 years old.

“There is a picture of when Kennedy was in town. It’s just something to celebrate Polish food and all of that.”

He noted the event continues to be well attended with some traveling far distances to be there.

He said there are not as many people in the club who know how to cook traditional foods as there were in the past.

“We used to have mostly Polish women in South Wheeling, including one of my sisters, who made a lot of the food, but they have died off and we have to rely on other resources,” he said. “The members of the women’s club are tremendous and do most of the setting up and serving. We have such good women who help me out.

“The cooking, the Soup Kitchen helps out now. We’re trying to maintain the Polish heritage; after all, it’s a Polish club.”

All are welcome to attend, Polish or not.

Those wanting more information should call Gorczyca at 304-232-1752.