Celebrating church and firehouse dinners

About a year ago JimInKy brought to us a forum on cookbooks. I think it is time to relate the great stories about the hard working folks and food at church, school, firehouse and other non-profit organizations fund raising events. Be it BBQ, spaghetti, chicken pie, chicken and dumplings, etc...we love them all. Plan to attend as many as possible this next year! How about YOU???

Our church sold cookbooks as a fund raiser. We made lots of money on those. We were able to buy chairs other decorations for an entrance area, a sofa for the Brides room and linen tablecloths for our dining area, plus we still have some money left. We do Sunday dinners alot to help the children go to camp and also to send people on mission trips. So if you have a chance, support these church fund raisers-

emsmom,
What do your serve at these church fund raisers? We're in the Hickory area and may have to come down to Gastonia!

We have done Spaghetti dinners, Fried chicken dinners, fish frys, ham,
I will let you know the next time we have one-today though, we are doing a Community Day-we are serving turkey dinner to everyone who needs a meal-free of charge-we had a special offering to cover this-we are planning to serve about 2000. My time of duty is from 4:30-9:30 tonight

quote:

Originally posted by dendan

emsmom,
What do your serve at these church fund raisers? We're in the Hickory area and may have to come down to Gastonia!

WOW - Community Day is a great idea. Doing the same in Hickory and distributing coats at the same time.

quote:

Originally posted by emsmom

We have done Spaghetti dinners, Fried chicken dinners, fish frys, ham,
I will let you know the next time we have one-today though, we hare doing a Community Day-we are serving turkey dinner to everyone who needs a meal-free of charge-we had a special offering to cover this-we are planning to serve about 2000. My time of duty is from 4:30-9:30 tonight.

quote:

Originally posted by dendan

emsmom,
What do your serve at these church fund raisers? We're in the Hickory area and may have to come down to Gastonia!

I have enjoyed the following church dinenrs in Maryland:

ham and oyster
sour beef and dumpling
fried chicken
ravioli

Happy Thanksgiving to all!
MEK

OYSTERs YUM! Wish they did that around here. Chicken pie is the BIG seller in these parts.

We are also doing the coats-and shoes-which are in part provided by a group called Samaritans Fee

quote:

Originally posted by dendan

WOW - Community Day is a great idea. Doing the same in Hickory and distributing coats at the same time.

quote:

Originally posted by emsmom

We have done Spaghetti dinners, Fried chicken dinners, fish frys, ham,
I will let you know the next time we have one-today though, we hare doing a Community Day-we are serving turkey dinner to everyone who needs a meal-free of charge-we had a special offering to cover this-we are planning to serve about 2000. My time of duty is from 4:30-9:30 tonight.

quote:

Originally posted by dendan

emsmom,
What do your serve at these church fund raisers? We're in the Hickory area and may have to come down to Gastonia!

We are in an area where fund-raising dinners are prolific, varied and usually outstanding. Sometimes my church seems like one giant eating machine, with homemade pierogi, stuffed cabbage and halushki sales, St. Patrick's Day party, youth group spaghetti dinner, Summer Festival, etc. and most of the events are well-attended by community members who don't belong to the church. We put flyers with a map in the local motels for food events so often get out of town visitors from that.

The most profitable dinner is one where we serve hundred guests in a couple of sittings. It's held about every 2 or 3 years and called a “TV Party Dinner”. The menu last time was homemade meat loaf, scalloped potatoes or mac & cheese, buttered corn or green bean-onion ring casserole and tossed salad, along with hot tomato sauce or brown gravy for the meatloaf and molded jello salads supplied by members of the group on the tables. Appetizers at the open bar during cocktail hour (can you guess it’s a Catholic church?) were items like clam dip and pu pu platters – the Stern’s Square Meals was our inspiration.

I’ll skip over the decor part, which is always outstanding. The Youth Group wears roller skates and their interpretation of Car Hop outfits and zips around serving the tables with only a couple of dropped trays. The local Oldies station supplies a DJ and offers oldies CDs for door prizes. But one of the most fun parts is the guests during dinner, who stroll around the room. We have had Lassie & Timmy, The Fonz (arriving on his motorcycle), Laverne & Shirley, and so many more. I get to be June Cleaver and my husband is Ward and we go around to the tables checking if everyone cleaned their plate enough to have dessert, which varies but last time, was hot fudge sundaes or strawberry shortcake.

Sorry this is long but I get so enthusiastic about doing fund-raising events for the different organizations I volunteer with. I am always in the thick of it, more on the planning end than the cooking end, though.

Thanks RubyRose. I grew up in Allentown but was too young to remember any great experiences like yours. Sounds GREAT! And an open bar, too. Know a few fellow Roadfooders who would be there with bells on for that!!