Phoenix Volunteer Hearth Firm firefighter Ryan Burns deep-fries fish for the Hollidaysburg fireplace firm’s annual Lenten barbeque on Feb. 12, 2021.
Mirror file picture by Patrick Waksmunski
As Ash Wednesday ushers within the Lenten season this week, space church teams and organizations are gearing up for annual fish dinners and seafood buffets.
Final 12 months, some teams canceled the standard meals over the COVID-19 pandemic, however this 12 months organizers stated they’re going to “give it a try to see what occurs.”
The continued pandemic has St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Newry providing drive-thru meals once more this 12 months, however the Second Avenue United Methodist Church in Altoona is bringing again its buffet, with take out obtainable, too.
Don Ferguson, youth group treasurer with Second Avenue United Methodist Church, stated the group averaged about 60 to 70 meals every week throughout final 12 months’s take-out solely occasion, not as excessive because the 150 every week they often serve in a typical 12 months.
So, “we’re going again to the buffet,” he stated. “We debated it however felt we might give it a try to see what occurs.”
Ferguson stated the youth do the serving and have all the time worn gloves, however this 12 months they’ll be donning masks as effectively.
“The tables shall be cleaned,” he stated. “We are going to do the most effective we are able to.”
Meals shall be served from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Friday by way of April 8. The price shall be $15 for adults, $10 for youngsters ages 5-10 and free for youngsters underneath 5. Take-out meals shall be discounted.
St. Patrick’s determined to stick with the drive-thru service, regardless that they didn’t promote as many meals as they did with the buffet.
“We did 300-500 meals every week,” stated occasion chairman Jim Weaver. “We often did about 800 with the buffet.
Weaver stated there have been discussions about going again to the buffet this 12 months, however lots of people, together with the employees, have been involved about COVID-19 points.
The meals shall be obtainable Friday by way of Good Friday. The price is $13, a rise over final 12 months’s value of $10.
“Prices have gone up, all the paper merchandise have doubled in value, meals merchandise went up, too, however the greatest enhance was the take out containers and paper merchandise,” Weaver stated.
Dine in in addition to take out shall be provided by a number of organizations — together with three volunteer fireplace firms — this 12 months.
The Excelsior Volunteer Hearth Firm in Bellwood, which provided take out solely final 12 months, received a head begin and started serving meals Feb. 11.
Bob Whiteford, firm treasurer, stated meals costs elevated this 12 months attributable to the price of the provides.
“Now we have not minimize the standard or the amount of the meal, however needed to increase the value, the value of fish went loopy,” Whiteford stated.
The worth of fish went as much as $14, he stated, however not solely that, the price of cole slaw dressing went up $12 a gallon.
“We’re nonetheless serving haddock and you continue to get an 11 ounce piece of fish,” Whiteford stated.
Meals shall be provided from 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays by way of Good Friday. All dinners shall be packed to go, however seating is obtainable, he stated.
“Final 12 months we offered 6,077 dinners, in 2019, the 12 months earlier than COVID, we offered about 7,000. This 12 months, the primary two weeks did about 500,” he stated.
Pinecroft Volunteer Hearth Firm additionally began serving meals on Feb. 11 and are providing each dine in and take out.
“Final 12 months for us was good, throughout our rush we had about 200 dinners per evening,” stated Lance Kustaborder, fundraising chairman and treasurer.
Meals are being served from 4 to 7 p.m. by way of Good Friday. The price is $11 per meal.
Phoenix Volunteer Hearth Firm of Hollidaysburg may also provide dine in and take out dinners.
“We’re doing the identical as we did final 12 months,” stated chairperson Eric Schmitt. “We did pretty effectively final 12 months even by way of the pandemic.”
Phoenix eradicated a couple of gadgets, such because the clam strips, in order that they didn’t have to boost the value, Schmitt stated.
The meals are $12 and shall be served from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday by way of Good Friday.
Dine in or take out meals shall be obtainable on the Unter Uns Musical & Leisure Society, 1401 Van Buren Ave., from 5 to 7:30 p.m. or till offered out Friday by way of Good Friday.
Shari Arnold, president of the Almrausch Schuhplattlers, stated final 12 months went effectively.
“We had full crowds each week,” she stated, “individuals have been able to get out.”
Arnold stated the individuals had no hesitancy about eating in final 12 months and the venue serves about 200 dinners every Friday throughout Lent.
Our woman of Lourdes Catholic Church in Altoona will serve fish dinners on Fridays by way of Good Friday, with take outs obtainable from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Eat in shall be obtainable from 4:30 to 7 p.m. The price is $14 per meal.
Take out meals additionally shall be obtainable in Tyrone.
Final 12 months, St. Gregory Knights of Columbus Council 1218, which holds their meals at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, determined to not serve meals because of the pandemic, however determined to start out up once more this 12 months.
Grand Knight Tom Gavazzi stated three meals shall be obtainable throughout Lent, however not on Good Friday.
Meals shall be served from 5 to 7 p.m. March 11 and March 15 in addition to April 8 at Harkins Corridor, Gavazzi stated.
“We mentioned having dine in — a few of our members thought it was not a good suggestion whereas others needed to do it, we met within the center and selected take-out solely,” he stated.
The worth of the meals has elevated from $10 to $12.
“The worth of fish has virtually doubled,” he stated. “Two years in the past, a field of the fish we get price $40, now it’s over $70.”
The group sometimes served about 150 meals, however expects a much bigger turnout this 12 months.
“I believe that attributable to the truth that we now have not accomplished this for 2 years, it is going to be fairly well-liked,” Gavazzi stated.
Mirror Workers Author Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.
