Super Bowl Sunday wing sales proved to be a super boost to area fire companies’ coffers.
Preparation of the traditional game day snack brought volunteers and food lovers out in force at Tremont Fire Company No. 1, Goodwill Hose Company No. 1, Frackville, and West End Hose Company No. 7, Pottsville.
“We were already sold out,” Brian Fetterolf, a Goodwill trustee, said shortly after 2:30 p.m. “It’s the first time we’ve offered wings on Super Bowl Sunday in a while. Our ‘Goodwill Mild,’ a creamy mild wing, is popular,” he said. “The community’s been very supportive.”
Breaking down the numbers, Goodwill had 20 volunteers assisting, making 150 pounds, or roughly 135 to 140 dozen wings in 13 flavors, and charged $9 per dozen. The fried wings came with celery and blue cheese dressing, or ranch dressing upon request. Patrons could eat-in or take out.
Fetterolf, a Philadelphia Eagles fan, was rooting for Denver to pull out a win.
“I want to see Manning win, and my brother’s a Denver fan,” he said.
Retired Gordon Fire Chief Pierce Gradwell stopped at the Frackville site to pick up his order of wings and also said he was rooting for the Broncos.
“I’d like to see Denver win, even though I’m an Eagles fan,” he said.
Meanwhile, at Tremont, it took another team of 20 volunteers several hours of prepping 640 pounds of jumbo-sized wings, 300 pounds of french-fried potatoes and 80 pounds of chicken tenders for the company’s game-day offerings, according to event Chairman Dave Harring. The jumbo wings were $10 per dozen, came in at least 10 flavors and also came with celery and a choice of blue cheese or ranch dressing. Tenders and fries were also available to purchase Sunday.
The number of wings sold Sunday was triple the amount normally sold during the company’s regular wing nights, according to Harring.
A Super Bowl special flavor, “Kickin’ Bourbon” was added to the lineup, he said.
“A couple of years ago, we had a blind test, and we added some new flavors,” Harring said.
As far as rooting for a winning Super Bowl team, Harring laughed, saying, “I stay out of that.”
Mark “Dutch” Hindman was among the volunteers assisting Sunday in Tremont.
“I help out on the line, and run the dishwasher and go wherever I’m needed,” said Hindman, who also brought along his son, Ethan Hindman, 14, a junior firefighter, to aid with kitchen prep.
Mark Hindman also volunteers during the company’s Lenten fish fry, which begins Friday.
“I bus tables and like to interact with people,” Hindman said.
John Kohr was also in the kitchen Sunday, having served as a Tremont volunteer for 47 years. Harring said Kohr assists with the logistics of keeping track of supplies and manpower.
At West End Hose Company No. 7, the company offered a variety of nine wing flavors at $9 per dozen; and $7.50 per dozen for boneless wings. Customers could eat-in, or take out, and also had the option to buy “Things Without Wings” like fries, burgers and pierogies.
Although the wing sales went well, fire companies are already planning for their next fundraisers.
Tom Schwarz, president of Tremont Fire Company No. 1, said volunteers have been busy preparing for the Lenten fish fry, slated for 5 to 7 p.m. every Friday, Feb. 12 through March 25. In past years, as many as 435 meals have been served in one evening, Schwarz said. An “Amuse Uncorked” Paint Party event is scheduled March 6. Tremont will host this year’s Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association convention in September. For more information, follow the Tremont Fire Company on Facebook.
At Frackville, an informational meeting will be held next month to make arrangements for an upcoming cruise fundraiser, according to George Anthony, president. Anthony said this will be the company’s third cruise event, having conducted a joint cruise before with the Elks and the Gordon Fire Company. Plans are tentatively set to book a cruise June 17-25, 2017, or sometime within the third week of June to a sunny destination, like the Bahamas.
Frackville will continue to offer its cheesesteak and french fries dinners on the third Thursdays of every month, Anthony said. Call 570-874-3859 for more information.