With many Christians abstaining from eating meat on Fridays during the weeks before Easter, several local organizations are getting their pans hot and ready to fry up plenty of fish fillets.
Catholics traditionally abstain from flesh meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and the Fridays during Lent.
Many organizations like volunteer fire departments, schools and American Legion posts are serving up fish with hopes of raising some money for a good cause along the way.
In Camden, the Arthur S. Moran Post American Legion fish fries are served on all seven Fridays of Lent. Money made from the dinners is split between the legion and its auxitiary, sccording to bar steward Sharon Edick. Fillets come with all the fixings as well, with a choice of french fries or baked potato, roll and salad or coleslaw. There’s also entertainment at the legion during the dinners.
"I would say we get 75 percent more business on Fridays" during Lent, Edick said. Dinners are served from 5 to 8 p.m. at a cost of $8. Take-outs are also available.
"Last week we ran out of fish at 7:35 p.m., and we ended up serving 195 dinners," Edick said.
Vernon’s Church of the Holy Family on Peterboro Street has been serving a Lenten Fish Fry for the past 25 years.
Not only have the profits been used for extras needed for the church, but each year 10 percent is donated to the Rice Bowl, which is a program to feed the hungry throughout the world, administered by Catholic Relief Services. Donations have also been made to the Red Cross, Tsunami, Katrina and Haiti relief efforts. Dinners are served from 4 to 6:30 p.m. or until sold out.
In Taberg, the Meeker-O’Rourke Post of the Taberg American Legion on Main Street also hosts a Friday Lent fish fry from 5 to 7 p.m. at a cost of $7 per dinner. Dinners include french fries, coleslaw and bread. Money raised from the fish fries is divided among three organizations at the legion and is used for charitable donations, legion officials said.
Rome Catholic Schools continues its seven-year tradition as it hosts fish fries during Lent on Feb. 26 and March 5, 13 and 26. Otherwise, starting in October and running through May, the school holds a fish fry on the first Friday of each month. Meals include dessert. Cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children. Those interested in placing an order can call Rita Riolo before 4 p.m. on the day of the dinner at 336-6190, ext. 5020. Fish fries are usually served from 5 to 7 p.m. Proceeds go to the Parent Teacher Group Fund.
This year the VIP’s, or Volunteers in Parish, are serving dinners through March 26 at the Floyd Booth Parish Center on Peterboro Street in Vernon. Dinners are served from 4 to 6:30 p.m. or until sold out.
Chairman Douglas Willson said a baked potato, great salad bar and beverage are served with each fish fry. The price is $8.50, and take-outs are available for $7.50. Those wishing to take their meals home should call 829-2820 after 3 p.m. on the day of the dinner. A bake sale booth is also planned. No dinner will be served on Good Friday, which is Friday, April 2.
Here’s a list of some of the organizations where diners can find Friday fish fries:
• Floyd Volunteer Fire Department, Old Floyd Road, 4 p.m.
• Leon R. Roberts Post American Legion, Depot Street, Holland Patent, 4:30 p.m.
• Utica Maennerchor, Flanagan Road, Marcy, 5 p.m.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, Calder Avenue, Yorkville, 4 p.m.
• Deerfield Volunteer Fire Department, Trenton Road, 4 p.m.
• Deansboro Volunteer Fire Department, Route 12-B, 5 p.m.
