Wyano church hoping Elvis impersonator, sweets will help raise the roof

Elvis may have left the building, but he’ll be on the lawn of the Wyano “Coal Patch Town” Fellowship Church come Sunday.

Almost a year after the church reopened to public services, work is underway to upgrade the more than 100-year-old building. Church members will host a cake walk fundraiser, complete with local Elvis impersonator Eddie Steen, in hopes of raising enough money to replace the roof.

The former United Methodist Church in South Huntingdon was slated to shutter last year because of a low membership until Sherry Kohuth and other community members vowed to save it.

After months of work, it was renamed and opened as a non-denominational church.

“Last year, even though it was a tackle and a chore and it was terrifying and all those things, I still felt blessed to be put in the position to say we can get this done,” said Kohuth, church director. “And right now, I feel blessed because we’ve come so far. There’s peace in my heart and I just know everything’s going to come together.”

More than $500 has been raised toward the $5,000 goal for the event being held on the church lawn.

In the cake walk, participants will walk around a numbered circle as Steen sings hymns. When the church bell rings, the music stops, and participants stop walking. A number is then drawn from a basket; whoever is standing on the number wins baked goods, jellies or jams.

Donations of baked goods are being accepted. Attendance is free, but participation in the walk costs $1 per round. The event runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m.