Ellendale Fish Fry serves hundreds

Well over 500 people attended the April 11 free-will fish dinner offered by the Ellendale Fire Department at the town’s community center. According to Rick Johnson, an Ellendale firefighter who was helping collect donations at the door, 522 meals were served in the dining hall and there were 150 to-go meals carried out. Dozens of people stood in a line which extended out the door and down the street already at the start time of 5 p.m. “Oh, yeah, it’s worth it,” one line member assured others as they entered the queue.

Inside, customers were invited to put their free-will donations into a gallon jar, then move on toward a line of cheerful firefighters dressed in matching red and black shirts. Diners were offered fried fish, special recipe “firehouse beans,” coleslaw and creamy homemade tartar sauce. The fish was all-you-can-eat.

“We went through 370 pounds of fish, 20 gallons of beans, 76 pounds of coleslaw and nine gallons of tartar sauce,” Johnson revealed, “More people came this time than in March.”

There were 16 Ellendale firefighters volunteering at the fish fry, a few brought their kids to help. Five members began preparing at around 7 a.m. and stayed through cleanup at 8 p.m.

In the dining hall, a dozen or more rows of tables spanned the width of the large room, yet it could be a challenge to find a seat with some waiting for others to finish before they could sit.

Beverages–lemonade and water–were available at a side table staffed by Charlie Spinler and Frank Altrichter; no one went thirsty. Firefighters also circulated through the dining space, offering seconds using hot pads and tongs. Those who asked, “Can I have just one more piece of fish?” were likely to get the response: “Go ahead and take two.”

“Everyone had their own role and worked together well,” commented Spinler. “It’s a good cause.”

According to Johnson, money raised by the event will be used to acquire updated confined space extraction equipment, and to support other department initiatives like training. Persistent needs are boots, more masks and more tanks. “We are always in need; those guys have to have that equipment.”

Johnson expressed gratitude for the extra residents who supported the event. “We gotta keep the fire department funded. The kids are paying attention; we gotta set the example.”