Fish fries help fund fire companies, churches
Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, kicking off the 40-day Lenten season recognized by Catholics around the globe.
Regardless of your religious affiliation, however, it also means the return of fish fry season.
Beginning on Ash Wednesday and for Fridays throughout Lent, churches and other organizations will be selling fish sandwiches, shrimp, coleslaw, pierogies and more. These events will provide the perfect meal for those avoiding meat on Fridays (unless you also swore off fried foods for Lent, of course).
For volunteer organizations like fire departments, fish fries are also a key fundraising tool.
Brennan Kozich, a member of the Rices Landing Fire Department, called their annual fish fry “essential.”
According to Kozich, funds raised from the fish fry help the fire department keep the bills paid and make other purchases.
“It costs a lot of money to fuel the trucks and have maintenance on them, and make sure the firefighters have the equipment they need to do our job,” Kozich said.
Tom Hastings, president and assistant chief of the Nemacolin Fire Department, said fish fries are a similar benefit to his agency.
Like many other fire departments, in Nemacolin they hold all sorts of fundraisers, including monthly bingo and movie nights in the summer.
However, none hold a candle to the money brought in by the fish fry.
“Out of all the other ones, the fish fry is the big dog,” Hastings said. “If we don’t do this stuff, we don’t have the doors open.”
Get your fish fry fix at one of locations listed below.
Fayette County
St. Peter Parish, St. Mary’s Social Hall, 118 Church St., Brownsville, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Ash Wednesday and every Friday (except Good Friday); dine-in or take-out; 724-364-7070, no orders will be taken after 5:30 p.m.
St. Joan of Arc Parish, 3523 National Pike, Farmington, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays (except Good Friday); dine-in or take-out, take-out will be available for the lunch menu only from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 724-329-4522, delivery available for four or more orders.
St. Francis of Assisi Parish Hall, Footedale site, 528 Footedale Road, Footedale, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays; dine-in or take-out; 724-245-2932
St. Francis of Assisi Parish Hall, Masontown site, 101 West Church Ave., Masontown, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ash Wednesday and Fridays; dine-in or take-out; 724-583-8210
St. John the Baptist Parish, 3332 Pittsburgh Road, Perryopolis, noon to 5:30 p.m. Fridays; dine-in or take-out
Connellsville Township Volunteer Fire Department, 905 Fireman St., Connellsville, 4 to 8 p.m. Ash Wednesday and Fridays; dine-in or take out; 724-628-0900. There will be no delivery this year.
South Brownsville Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, 530 Water St., Brownsville, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Ash Wednesday and Fridays; dine-in, take-out or delivery; 724-785-8448
Dunbar Volunteer Fire Company, 1 Fireman Drive, Dunbar, 3 to 7 p.m. Ash Wednesday and Fridays; dine-in or take-out; 724-277-0207
Farmington Volunteer Fire Department, 119 Elliottsville Road, Farmington, 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays through Lent, except Good Friday; dine-in or take-out; instructions for pre-order will be posted on the department’s Facebook page
Smock Volunteer Fire Department, 125 Shaffer Ave., Smock, 4 to 7 p.m. Ash Wednesday and Fridays; dine-in, take-out or delivery; 724-677-2400
Greene County
American Legion Post 400, 205 E George St, Carmichaels, noon to 8 p.m. Ash Wednesday and Fridays; 724-966-8730
Greensboro & Monongahela Twp. Volunteer Fire Department, 384 Stoney Hill Road, Greensboro, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Ash Wednesday and Fridays; 724-943-3800
Jefferson Volunteer Fire Company, 1483 Jefferson Road, Jefferson, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Ash Wednesday and Fridays; 724-883-3901, deliveries available with $30 minimum
Mt. Morris Volunteer Fire Department, 295 Mount Morris Road, Mt. Morris, 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays; dine-in or take-out
Nemacolin Volunteer Fire Department, 441 Roosevelt Blvd., Nemacolin, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Ash Wednesday and Fridays; 724-966-7408, limited deliveries available; ask prior to ordering
Rices Landing Volunteer Fire Department, 66 Bayard Ave., Rices Landing, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Ash Wednesday and Fridays; dine-in, take-out or delivery; 724-592-5765 or 724-592-6120
St. Ann Church, Knights of Columbus 232 E. High St., Waynesburg, Fridays 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 6:30 p.m. Fridays (lunch only on Good Friday); dine-in or take-out; 724-627-7568 ext. 5, deliveries available for lunch only
St. Marcellus Church, 1340 Jefferson Road, Jefferson, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 3 to 6:30 p.m. Fridays; dine-in or take-out; 724-883-2445