A Rainy Night in VA

Last night was the first Friday of the Month which is the day that our social outreach program distributes food to those in need. Fish Fry partnered with Social Outreach last night and was able to give meals to those who also received food assistance. So the drive-thru was a little busier than normal with some receiving groceries as well as fish dinners. In the drive-thru alone, we served over 700 meals! A huge thank you to all the very patient folks who did the drive-thru last night. We hope you had a positive experience. We appreciate your willingness to spend a little time with us on a rainy Friday night.

As always a huge shout out to our volunteers–last night was community and fellowship at its finest. Watching our drive-thru crew have so much fun taking orders and delivering meals–while the cold rain came down was pretty inspiring. It is such a wonderful event to part of–and we always need more volunteers.

Thursday–Getting ready for Friday’s all day rain. In order to fry-the fryers must be dry. All this was set up on Thursday. By 10 pm on Friday night–it was all taken down.

Friday Morning & Early Afternoon Operations-On Friday morning, over 330 potatoes were washed, prepared, and baked. Hundreds and hundreds of cups of cole slaw and tartar sauce were made, and so many stations were set up.

The Closing-As the last car drove thru the line, Dr. Austin Middleton, my favorite bagpiper sent us home…or at least inside out of the rain.

The After Party–It just sounded better than, “The Clean Up. ” After the last meals are served, everything has to be cleaned up and put away. This happens for all six weeks of our Lenten Fish Fry. We have volunteers who come in at the end of the night and wash dishes including bins that held raw fish. Others who mop all the floors, put up the chairs and tables, and take down all the stations. Our fry crew filters all the peanut oil (and whatever is usable for next week-will be saved) and cleans all the fryers.

So have a wonderful week and we hope to see you on Friday.

If you see someone without a smile today, give ’em yours. -Dolly Parton

Wow & Thank you!

Our 14th annual Lenten Fish Fry has begun. We served over 1200 meals. Thank you to all of our volunteers–you made that possible! It was wonderful to welcome so many new folks and reconnect with others. There are so many different jobs of which we have highlighted a few in this gallery. If Fish Running and Fish Breading were Olympic sports–Saint James kids would win.

We are also working on decreasing our carbon footprint. Working with our Creation Care Ministry and the Scouts, we have two new initiatives. First, we have recycling bins for cans bottles, and plastic (so keep a look out for those when disposing of waste). Second, we also have biodegradable and compostable to-go bags for the drive-thru. And since people always ask-we use wild-caught flounder.

Have a great week! We hope to see you Friday!

Our 14th Fish Fry begins this Friday

During Lent, let us find concrete ways to overcome our indifference.–Pope Francis

This Friday marks the 14th first Friday of our fish fry! Come be part of our community! Eat delicious, homemade food (donations provide support for community programs), Volunteer, or just Hang out in fellowship. Please note-you don’t need to be Catholic to eat or volunteer at our fish fry. All are welcome!

March 25, 2022-Thanks and Prayer

Friday was quite amazing. We were blessed with so many volunteers—some visiting from afar! Thank you to all of them! Our Blessed Virgin Mother was on the minds of many because it was The Feast of the Annunciation, a day for celebration. It was also a day of prayer to Mary. Around the world, including by the fryers, people took time out of their day to pray together a Prayer for The Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for Russia and Ukraine.

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/prayers/documents/20220325-atto-consacrazione-cuoredimaria.html

By the end of the night, we served 1395 meals. We have found our rhythm with the drive-thru and in-person. Thank you to all who made our fry part of your day. We hope to see you this Friday! For those who want to experience the best volunteer Fish Fry and tasty fish and fixins-please come!

Bill and Mary Beth, two of our fish bakers! Psst-the baked fish is really good.

March 18, 2022-Great Weather, Great Fellowship

Father Scalia takes note of Father John Paul’s fish frying skills. Scott just keeps frying and frying and frying…
And some of the hardest workers of the night—the fish breaders! Ella and Penny easily breaded over 200 fillets before their shift was over!

On the eve of the Feast of St. Joseph, we welcomed parishioners and members of the community to our fry. Families were able to hang out both inside and out. Some ate outside-picnic style. A few convertibles even had the tops down! It was a great night for community, fellowship, and positivity. May peace come to all in the world and the love and good of St. Joseph guide us all.

March 11, 2022-Before, During, & After

Before-Meaghan, our amazing volunteer coordinator checks in with the early crew;

During-Father John Paul takes a turn at frying fish;

After-Kim and Julie, the dynamic duo who keep us all going, start inventory just before midnight…

Thank you to the band. It was amazing! Thank you to all of our volunteers. We served 1303 meals. Finally, thank you to everyone who made our fry part of your day. May God Bless All of you this week and beyond.

March 4, 2022-Fish! Fish! Fish!

Breading and Frying Fish-nonstop for 3+ hours!

What an energized start! After days of prepping and a short prayer by Father Scalia-the fry began. Logistically-there were a few kinks but at this point our volunteers are expert adapters. Both in-person and drive-thru stations were non-stop. At the end of the night, about 1200 meals were served.

Guess what just came in from the garage

Standing over hot oil frying hushpuppies infuses the clothes with a very special smell. Washing and airing only goes so far. After the last fry of the Lenten season, the clothes are washed, aired, and stored in the garage. Time to bring them in! We hope to see you tonight.