×

Fried fish to go

Churches, groups turn to carryout for annual Lenten Friday events

Staff photo / Allie Vugrincic John Vrontos breads smelts before the first St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church carryout Friday fish fry of the Lenten season on Feb. 19. St. Demetrios Friday fish fries will continue 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. through April 23.

Many Mahoning Valley churches and organizations are offering fish and sides for those giving up meat on Fridays during the Lenten season.

A year ago, they were at their height for having fish dinner fundraisers — until ordered by state and county health officials to shut down in the coronavirus pandemic’s early days.

The dinners have started up once again, but with social-distancing guidelines in place — including no inside dining but rather drive-thru, carryout fish dinners.

That’s how things are set up at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Vienna, where people pull up to the back of the church and place their fish dinner order while waiting in their car.

Jerry Piehuta of Brookfield, who is known by the group of workers preparing the dinners as “the Fish Man,” said the church only had three fish dinners last year, so it decided last fall that first Friday each month, it would have a fish sandwich dinner.

Now during Lent the church has a fish sandwich lunch 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and dinner from 3 to 6 p.m. each Friday.

On Ash Wednesday, the church began serving fish dinners in addition to fish sandwiches.

“This was the first time we served a fish dinner on Ash Wednesday. We had 71 sandwiches and 125 dinners that day. It didn’t turn out that bad,” Piehuta said.

The church’s monthly fish sandwiches have been successful with 221 sold in November, 222 in December, 150 in January and 185 in February.

For the main fish dinner in past years, the church has sold as many as 600 to 700 per week. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit and numbers dropped to less than half that.

He said when the dinners ended last year, the church lost about $25,000 on the dinners and $10,000 on a reverse raffle.

PREPARATION

Piehuta said two crews work in pairs to stay safe while fixing the dinners and placing them in plastic containers. He said six people stay in the hall and the others are outside taking the orders and bringing the food to customers.

“It is so hard to guess how may we will get. I order the food, and so I pick a number out of the air for how many dinners we will possibly have. All money raised goes to the church’s general fund,” Piehuta said.

Piehuta said the first Friday helps to determine how many dinners to expect for next weeks.

David Graora of Vienna placed fish in containers last week.

“If they keep coming like they did (last Friday), each Friday we should do well,” Graora said, expecting 200 dinners.

At Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Niles, the Rev. John Lavelle, pastor, said the church is not allowing dine in, which was popular in past years.

“We are glad to be able to hold the dinners. We have a more limited menu than past years. We are providing a good meal, but it has to be taken home,” he said.

To practice social distancing, everyone works in pairs preparing different food — including cheese puffs.

“Everyone has a different location to work at,” Lavelle said.

Lavelle said last year, the church ordered food it could not use, and between the food ordered and only having three dinners, the church lost $10,000.

Now, the customers stay in their cars and drive through the parking lot. A Post-it note is placed on the windshield indicating what was ordered.

“One of my fears is that the longer we are away from something, the harder it is to come back. That is one reason why I am glad we are holding the dinners,” Lavelle said.

Tom Rossi of Niles, one of the volunteers, said it’s “amazing to think a year ago we could only do three dinners and then have them shut down completely with all that was happening.”

EQUIPMENT NEEDS

The Mineral Ridge Volunteer Fire Association also is hosting fish dinners to help pay for equipment and items for the fire department. Fire Capt. Jeff Tucker said dinners will be held through March 26.

“We were only able to hold one dinner last year because of COVID-19. When COVID-19 hit, we stopped. We lost $9,000 or more last year,” Tucker said.

This year, people can place orders by calling or on Facebook. “We bring it to them, and everyone stays in their cars,”‘ Tucker said.

Raising usually $10,000 from the dinners, Tucker said the fire association has held these events for the past 15 years to get a boat, four-wheelers and Jaws of Life extraction equipment.

“As long as we keep with the drive- thru and are able to keep everyone safe, we will be able to hold the dinners. Last year we did one and decided to stop for the safety of everyone here and the people getting the dinners,” Tucker said.

A FIRST

St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Warren is having its first fully carryout fish-fry season, said parish council member Mary Ann Raptis of Warren.

On Fridays, the Atlantic Street banquet center is set up with markers for social distancing and a serving line. Not sure what to expect in this unusual year, volunteers were ready to serve up about 500 fish dinners.

“We’ve had years where we’ve done 1,000,” parish council member Ely Vardavas of Warren said.

Steve Zervas, president of parish council and chair of the fish fry, said on any given week, extra uncooked fish is saved for the next week, and leftover cooked food is given to the Warren Family Mission.

He said the St. Demetrios Lenten fish fry has been going on for at least 40 years.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
     

Starting at $4.85/week.

Subscribe Today