Not only do the dinners provide a tasty option for those abstaining from meat on Fridays, part of the Lent observance, but the meals provide a valuable fundraising opportunity. For many organizations, the fish frys are their biggest fundraiser of the year.

Last year, Excelsior Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 – Bellwood served up more than 8,200 meals.

Joe Whiteford, a member of the committee in charge of the meals, said this year the company started serving the fish dinners on Valentine’s Day, netting 644 sales to kick off their season.

The company’s biggest fundraiser of the year “keeps us operating,” he said. “This covers maintenance and fuel, and enables us to keep providing a free service to the community to keep it safe.”

Containers are filled with french fries for the take-out dinners at the Excelsior Fire Company’s annual fish fry. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

If the recent sales continue, the company is looking to top last year’s results. So far, things are going swimmingly, as on Friday night, volunteers served up 865 meals, according to a message on the company’s Facebook page.

“We did it, we broke last year’s number again tonight,” the post states. During the second week of the fish dinners, 834 meals were served, also a record, according to the company’s Facebook posts.

Excelsior will have fish dinners from 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays through Good Friday. The cost is $15 and includes a choice of fried fish, baked fish, shrimp or chicken tenders. Sides include a choice of two: stewed tomatoes, cole slaw, their “world famous” macaroni and cheese and french fries. A roll is also included with the meal, which is available for eat-in or take-out. Phone orders are being taken this year at 814-742-8541.

Fish Fry Fridays are the Pinecroft Volunteer Fire Company’s top fundraiser, too, said Lance Kustaborder, company president.

“On a good year, with good weather, we could make around $10,000 profit,” he said, noting the company serves between 100 and 150 meals each of the Friday nights during Lent.

Kay Shaw fills containers with stewed tomatoes for the take-out dinners at a recent fish fry hosted by Excelsior Fire Company. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Proceeds from the sales are used for training and truck maintenance, Kustaborder said.

Pinecroft serves its dinners from 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays through Good Friday and offers a variety of choices.

The seafood platter is $15 and includes a fried fish filet, shrimp and scallops with two sides and a roll. There is also a $14 meal, which includes either beer battered fish, baked fish or chicken tenders, with a choice of two sides and roll. Desserts are $2 and extra sides are $4. Sides include french friends, stewed tomatoes, mac and cheese and coleslaw.

Also serving dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. on Fridays, the Phoenix Volunteer Fire Department in Hollidaysburg will have the kitchen up and running March 7 until April 18.

Dinners are $14 and choices include baked or fried fish, shrimp and chicken strips. All dinners include french fries, macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes, roll and butter and dessert.

Seafood buffets among the offerings

Blair County is home to two seafood buffets — one at the Second Avenue Global Methodist Church, 130 Second Ave., Altoona, and the other at St. Patrick’s School, Newry.

Second Avenue church’s all-you-can-eat buffet is open from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Fridays during Lent, except Good Friday.

The buffet, run by the church’s youth group and volunteers, is $17; $14 for seniors 65 years of age and older; and $12 for children under 10 years of age. Single take-out meals are $14, said Jill Lang, office manager and media coordinator.

The buffet includes baked and fried fish, shrimp poppers, crab patties, french fries, macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes, coleslaw, applesauce and dinner rolls. The meal also includes one dessert per person.

All proceeds benefit the youth group, she said.

“This money helps the program to run, the teens go on mission trips and retreats,” Lang said. “Last year, they made approximately $5,000 and served around 100 people per week.”

St. Patrick’s School opens their buffet from 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays during Lent with a menu that includes baked and fried haddock, butterfly shrimp, macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes, pierogies, french fries, coleslaw, green beans, soup, roll, dessert and beverage.

The price is $20 for adults; $18 for seniors ages 60 and older; $10 for youth 5 to 12 years old and free to children under 5 years old.

Many other area churches and organizations offer fish dinners during Lent, as well.

– St. Therese of the Child Jesus Church serves its fish dinners on Fridays, March 7 through April 11 for $14, said Paula Hall, chairperson.

The menu includes baked and fried fish and choice of homemade macaroni and cheese or french fries. There is also homemade coleslaw, stewed tomatoes and apple sauce, Hall said.

“We serve 350 to 400 per week. Last year, we made $15,000 to $16,000. The proceeds are used for general operations and special projects as needed,” Hall said.

– Our Lady of Lourdes serves its dinners from 4:30 to 7 p.m. or until sold out March 7 through April 18, Good Friday. Take-out orders begin at 3:30 p.m.

The meals include hand breaded or seasoned and baked haddock fish, hand cut fries or homemade baked mac and cheese, stewed tomatoes, coleslaw, applesauce — with a choice of two out of three — and dessert (cake or pie). Dine-in also includes a drink. The meals are the same price as last year, $14, said Linda Rickens Schellhammer, committee member.

“We serve generous portions, which include a nice piece of haddock fish that is hand breaded the morning of fish fry. The baked haddock is buttered and seasoned the morning of, as well. We have a group that begins at 6:30 a.m. hand cutting potatoes for our delicious fries. The mac and cheese is also made that morning with our own recipe. We also prepare our stewed tomatoes the morning of fish fry with our very own recipe,” she said.

“We serve 850 people, many are regular, repeat customers, in a three and a half hour period. This is our biggest fundraiser and is growing annually. The money is used to support the needs of our church,” Schellhammer added.

– St. Gregory Knights of Columbus Council 1218 at St. Matthews Catholic Church in Tyrone serves dinners from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. March 7 through April 4.

Dinners are eat-in or take-out and include hand breaded haddock, fried or baked; made from scratch macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes, coleslaw; apple sauce roll and butter; dessert; and coffee and punch, said Jack Wagner, Knights member.

The Knights typically serve 150 to 170 meals each night. The meals are $12 for adults and $7 for children under 12 years of age.

“The money raised goes towards various nonprofit groups, like St. Matthew’s Church and school, Every Life Matters pregnancy resource center, youth sports programs, Special Olympics, 4H programs, cancer patients and many other organizations,” Wagner said.

– The Unter Uns Musical & Entertainment Society, 1401 Van Buren Ave., will offer dine-in or take-out meals from 4:30 to 7 p.m. every Friday during Lent, said Shari Arnold, president of the Almrausch Schuhplattlers.

“We serve a choice of baked or beer batter fried premium haddock with a choice of scalloped potatoes or macaroni and cheese. Also included is coleslaw, stewed tomatoes and roll for $14 or $7 for a child’s portion,” Arnold said.

This year on selected dates, March 7 and 21 and April 4 and 18, a crab cake dinner is available for $22.

“This fundraiser helps our dancers with costumes and other things needed to maintain our mission to uphold and educate the German heritage through dance and music,” Arnold said.

Fish fry lunches offered

For those looking to kick off the Lenten season on Ash Wednesday, fish fry lunches will be available from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, and then continue on Fridays during Lent, except for Good Friday, at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, 1 Cathedral Square, Altoona. Cost is $10 and includes a fish sandwich, mac and cheese and coleslaw. Pick up is at the Cathedral alley door in a drive-thru. Orders of 10 or more will be delivered if they are called in to 814-944-4603.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.