Fresh fish and home-baked pie were the main attractions at Calvary United Church’s 14th fish fry Apr. 26. The St. Jacobs church served more than 500 pieces of fish to guests to raise money for the church’s capital fund. Volunteer and convenor of the event Dorothy McMillan said the fundraiser started at the downtown location of the church to raise money for a bigger facility and became so popular it continued after the new church opened in 2000.
“It was really quite hectic (downtown) because we had a tiny little kitchen. Here we can serve more people,” she said. “We’ll need a new roof soon, so (the money) will go to that.”
Fish was provided for the event by Tom Howell, who fried more than 30 pieces of fresh white fish at a time in the parking lot. Howell’s van is especially equipped with a fryer inside, allowing him to transport the portable fish-frying operation from his home in Wiarton.
Eat-in guests were served by volunteers in the church’s community room, while more volunteers
filled the take-out orders that poured in.
“You can have any kind of pie you want,” McMillan laughed, pointing to a row of pie choices, from traditional fruit and pumpkin to creamier chocolate and coconut. “A lot of the food is donated. It’s amazing how it brings our church together because we require a lot of volunteers.”
Friends and families gathered for the dinner crowding together at long tables to enjoy the festivities.
“It’s a great community event,” McMillan said. “They’ve been inside all winter and now they get out and they see their neighbours and they see the community.”
