For many organizations, the dinners — and sometimes lunches — are their biggest fundraisers of the year.

Excelsior Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 of Bellwood has already started serving up their dinners, weeks ahead of the Lenten season’s start.

“Lent is seven weeks, but we do it for 10 weeks. We go to Good Friday and count backwards,” said Joe Whiteford, a member of the committee in charge of the meals.

The fire company started serving up fish dinners on Jan. 30 this year after finding success in the past.

Excelsior firefighter Cody Delay dumps a basket of french fries. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

“If you come to ours, we have you hooked and you just keep coming back,” he said.

Last year, the fire company averaged about 850 meals a week, selling about 8,500 meals across the 10 weeks.

“We had a profit of about $35,000,” Whiteford said. “We just ordered a new $1.3 million fire truck. The profits go to the operations of the fire company.”

The dinners, which cost $15, are served from 4 to 7 p.m. Meals include a main course choice of fried fish, baked fish, shrimp or chicken tenders with a choice of two sides, from homemade macaroni and cheese, french fries, coleslaw or stewed tomatoes.

Phoenix Volunteer Fire Department of Hollidaysburg will start serving their dinners Friday, Feb. 13, giving them a slight bump in serving days. The meals also cost $15 and will be served from 4 to 7 p.m. through April 3.

Volunteers pack up take-out orders at Excelsior Volunteer Fire Company. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Last year, the company sold roughly 2,450 meals with the proceeds used for general expenses, said spokesman William Rudy.

The meals include a choice of fried or baked fish, chicken tenders, fish or clams; two sides from french fries, stewed tomatoes, macaroni and cheese and coleslaw. All dinners include a roll with butter and dessert.

Imler Volunteer Fire Company is holding its fish dinners Feb. 20 through April 3 from 4 p.m. until sold out.

The price is $14 to eat in (all you can eat) and $15 for takeout. The menu includes baked or fried fish, french fries or baked potato, stewed tomatoes, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw and roll.

Two seafood buffets are also on tap this year — one at St. Patrick’s School in Newry and the other at the Second Avenue Global United Methodist Church in Altoona.

Excelsior firefighter Joe Whiteford check the temperature of the baked fish in the oven. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

The St. Patrick’s buffet has been voted the Altoona Mirror Hometown Favorite for the past 12 years.

The buffet runs from 4 to 7 p.m. Feb. 20 through April 3 with a menu that includes all of the following: baked and fried fish, shrimp, stewed tomatoes, macaroni and cheese, pierogies, french fries, green beans, cole slaw, soup, dinner roll, dessert and beverage.

Prices are $23 for takeout, $22 for adults, $20 for seniors 60 and over, $10 for children 5-12 and free to children 4 years old and younger.

“Prices went up slightly this year,” Principal Tara Steinbugl said.

Last year, St. Patrick’s served just under 5,000 meals. All of the proceeds go directly to the operation of St. Patrick School, Steinbugl said.

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

The buffet includes select beverages and a dessert. The menu (subject to change) includes baked and fried fish, crab cakes, shrimp poppers, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw and stewed tomatoes.

The price for the adult buffet is $18, while the senior citizen buffet (ages 65 and up) is $15. The price drops to $13 for children 10 and younger. Single takeout meals are $15.

The buffet benefits the Second Avenue youth group.

“The youth group used last year’s funds to attend a mission trip for a week, a trip to Hershey Park, as well as this year’s winter retreat. This is their biggest fundraiser of the year and the main source of funding for the group,” said Jill Lang, office manager and media coordinator.

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

St. Therese of the Child Jesus in Altoona serves meals on Fridays from 4 to 7 p.m. (or until sold out) Feb. 20 through March 27.

The menu includes baked and fried fish, homemade coleslaw, homemade desserts, homemade macaroni and cheese, french fries, applesauce, stewed tomatoes and a roll.

“Last year we served at least 1,700 meals. Proceeds are used in the parish to upgrade the kitchen, and last year we purchased a new three-door refrigerator,” said Paula Hall, fish fry manager.

Our Lady of Lourdes in Altoona’s Lenten fish fry will be held Fridays, Feb. 20 through Good Friday, April 3, in the church hall. Takeout begins at 3:30 p.m. and eat-in at 4:30 p.m.

The menu includes fried or baked haddock, a choice of macaroni and cheese or french fries and stewed tomatoes and cole slaw or applesauce. There will be a dessert station for a choice of a dessert. Drinks are included in the $16 meal price.

The Unter Uns Musical & Entertainment Society, 1401 Van Buren Ave., will offer meals every Friday during Lent from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

The $15 meal includes choice of baked or batter-fried premium haddock, choice of scalloped potatoes or macaroni and cheese, with coleslaw, stewed tomatoes and a roll. Crab cake dinners for $22 will be available only on Feb. 27, March 30 and April 3, said Shari Arnold, president of the Almrausch Schuhplattlers.

“We do on average 150 to 165 meals a week. We are a German dance group, which is an organization that’s not for profit, so we use the funds to help our members defray the cost of outfits, which come from Germany, and travel to conventions and competitions. We also provide lectures to students,” Arnold said.

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