BY CORIE LYNN
In the weeks leading up to Easter, many Christians practice Lent. During this time, individuals abstain from eating meat each Friday until Easter Sunday.
For Hays, this means the return of annual fish fries and church suppers.
According to Dale Schmidt of the Hays VFW, the outpost will continue its fish fry supper. This supper has been held for the past seven years.
Schmidt said that the VFW started holding the supper “to benefit the club.”
Because the supper is also a fundraiser, fish or shrimp with noodles and beans are offered at $9.95 a plate. Grebble and hushpuppies are also available for $1 each.
The VFW is holding their fish fry every Friday night until Easter Sunday. Dinner starts at 5:00 p.m. and ends at 8:00 p.m.
Schmidt also explained that the club modified the supper this year for safety, which included socially distanced seating.
“They can get their food to go if they want to do that,” he said.
Hays residents can also get their Friday fish fix from the annual Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Mary’s Knights of Columbus fish fry.
IHM and K of C will hold their fish fry on Mar. 12 as a drive-thru dinner. Guests preorder their plates of fish, beans, noodles and coleslaw online. They then pick up their orders between 5-7 p.m. that day, though there will be some meals at the door.
According to the IHM website the fish fry is $10 for adults at the door and $5 for children.
The St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Lenten soup supper is another tradition that will continue with safety modifications.
According to Diana Klaus of St. Joseph’s, the soup supper will be donation-only, as it is every year, with proceeds going to the parish or the food pantry.
Guests, however, can expect fewer soup choices than in the past and to find masked volunteers ladling out dinner.
“There will only be three soups,” Klaus said, “and we will call up each table to be served.”
In addition to these changes, she explained that the supper will only be served on Friday, Mar. 12 and 26 from 5:00 until 6:00 p.m. in the Kennedy Cafeteria of the parish school building. Stations of the Cross will then take place at 6:30 p.m.
This year’s fish fries look different than in past years. But, as Klaus explained, locals want to continue to do what they can while maintaining safety for everyone.
Whether you are practicing Lent or simply in the mood for freshly fried fish, the Hays community has plenty of options for your Friday night dinner.