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Mother's Day butterfly release held in Schuylkill County

For Mother's Day, a vineyard and winery in Schuylkill County celebrated all mothers by releasing butterflies in their honor.

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, Pa. — The Galen Glen Vineyard and Winery in West Penn Township hosted their second annual Mother's Day butterfly release event. 

The event is a fundraiser for the friends of Carbon Career & Technical Institute or CCTI, a nonprofit organization that provides support to students in need. 

The release of the butterflies is intended to celebrate the mother figures of today and honor the mothers who have passed on. 

"All the butterflies this year are actually sold out. So, yes, we had a wonderful response, and so, although the weather is not wonderful today. I think it's still symbolic for everyone who would like to come and release their butterfly," said Robyn Plesniarski, event organizer.

Alison Mertz, from Tamaqua, released her butterfly in memory of her mother, "So my mom, she unlikely passed away, and I want to send this butterfly to her today to honor her."

"I'm just so proud of her, and we miss her mom so much, so it's such a special opportunity to be able to release a butterfly today in her mom's honor, so we're very thankful," said Nicole Updegrave, Tower City.

And with the weather on the chillier side, Allison's butterfly got to hang out within the flowers until it's ready to fly.

"Tomorrow's weather is going to be optimal. So certainly, if they don't feel like they want to release it today, they should be able to release them tomorrow," said Robyn.

The butterflies come from a butterfly sanctuary in Jim Thorpe and are protected in an envelope until they are ready to be released. 

Because of the weather, some people are waiting to release their butterflies tomorrow when it's warmer.

"They package them, um, and actually give them a little bit of sugar water to kind of keep them fed and happy. And we also have habitats that, if they want to release them while they're at home, they can do that as well," added Robyn.

The vineyard plans on having the Mother's Day butterfly release event next year as well.

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