Preston Volunteer Fire Department hosted its first ever Lenten Fish Fry this past Friday, Feb. 24, at St. Bernadette Catholic Church. The fire department took on the event after the local Knights of Columbus Chapter voted to disband at the end of last year due a lack of membership.
Coincidentally, about that same time frame, Preston Fire had started looking into doing a fish fry fundraiser. They were approached by Keith Mertz, a Preston Volunteer Fire Department Board members, and former Knights of Columbus member, who, with the permission of the church, offered the Lenten fish fry tradition to the fire department. The fire department accepted and will now carry on the Knights of Columbus’ tradition. Before Preston took it over, the Knights of Columbus had hosted this event every Lenten holiday for the past 16 years.
The first Friday had the department serving 103 meals out of the parish center. They had prepared for approximately 150 people. The event will continue to be held at the Parish Center every Friday afternoon until March 31, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. It is a drive-through only event, and all proceeds will help benefit the Preston Volunteer Fire Department. The menu will feature weekly staples of fried fish, cole slaw, green beans, rolls, and Tootsie Rolls. Every week the starch will change between scalloped potatoes and au gratin potatoes.
When the Knights of Columbus chose to disband, they had approximately $6,500 left in their savings. That money was divided up among local and area organizations including the special Olympics, McCarty Senior Center, all three local food pantries, the Hickory County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Office program, and Alpha House. More information on the Knights of Columbus disbandment will be available in a future issue of The Index.
Preston Fire’s next fish fry is scheduled for this Friday, March 10, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.