The New Kensington church basement is filled with the sounds of people talking and laughing and working. There is flour on the floor. There’s more on the hands and aprons of those who have gathered in the heat of a summer July morning. They are here baking homemade cookies for the Mount Saint Peter Parish’s 38th annual Festa Italiana. This three-day event is held Aug. 1-3 at the church.

In addition to forming the dough into sweet treats that most likely will sell out at the festival, they are also creating memories and long-lasting friendships. “We are blessed to do God’s work,” says Gina Abdallah of New Kensington, who leads the festival’s pastry team. “This is a family. Making these cookies takes a lot of work, but it’s all worth it. We have such wonderful volunteers. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be able to keep this festival going.”