Knights of Columbus hosts 19th fish fries
Holy Trinity Knights of Columbus Bolivar/Zoar will begin its 19th year holding fish fry events during Lent. There will be six fish fry events beginning Feb. 16 from 4-7 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1835 Dover-Zoar Road NE, near Zoar. The dates are Feb. 16, Feb. 23, March 1, March 8, March 15 and March 22. There is no fish fry on Good Friday, March 29. Carryouts are available.
According to Ed Wills of Strasburg, a member of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, the fish fry events are under direction of Mark Yovanovich, grand knight of the Knights of Columbus, who recently looked over the past records and was able to determine how many dinners they have sold.
Wills said a group of volunteers help at the fundraiser. There are about a dozen who help in the kitchen and another 15-20 who clean the tables. He said since 2006 they have served 55,000 fish dinners. He said they sell from 500-600 dinners each week.
“Our church continues to exist because we all work together and volunteers that offer to help at the dinners,” Wills said.
They prepare about a 100 pounds of fish for each Friday. The mothers from Tuscarawas Central Catholic furnish the desserts, which can be purchased separately from the meal. The profits remain with TCC.
The cost of the adult dinners is $10 for two pieces of fried fish or one piece of baked fish or $13 for four pieces of fried fish or two pieces of baked fish. For children under 12, the cost is $6 for a one-piece fried fish dinner or a plate of mac and cheese with a choice of a side. The dinners include hush puppies, choice of French fries, rice pilaf or mac and cheese, as well as coleslaw, a roll, juice or coffee. Soda is $1 extra. This is the same cost as in 2023.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the church offered a drive-thru option. This practice has continued. The youth of the church take orders and deliver the food to vehicles. The youth also accept tips, which they are permitted to keep.
Currently, Holy Trinity does not have a full-time parish priest. Father Jimmy Hatfield and Father Tomas Carvajal Y Basto are available to hold a mass for the parishioners.
Proceeds from the fish fry events go to charitable organizations such as the soup kitchen for the monthly lunches at the local Salvation Army, the Bolivar Food Pantry, Bolivar Fire Department to provide free smoke alarms, Community Hospice, Fisher House Veterans Home at Cleveland, community Thanksgiving meals, TV Strong Trojan Foundation, Horizons Inc., Tuscarawas County Homeless Center, St. Vincent DePaul Society and several other needs in the community.
Holy Trinity Catholic Church was established when the closing of St. Stephen’s Catholic Church in Bolivar, St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Strasburg and St. Partrick’s Catholic Church in Mineral City took place.
Call the church at 330-874-4716.
