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All Things Considered => General Discussion--Food Related => Topic started by: Kristin Meredith on October 14, 2017, 08:35:38 AM

Title: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: Kristin Meredith on October 14, 2017, 08:35:38 AM
Bent and I are members of the Brandy Station Volunteer Fire Dept Aux.  The Aux raises money for the FD, primarily through cooking.  We hold a fried chicken dinner twice a year as a fund raiser.  All you can eat -- fried chicken, corn pudding, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, cole slaw, rolls, dessert and a drink.  All home made.  $12 a person -- kids under 5 are free and 5-10 are $6 (several members think we are charging too much).  The doors are open from 5 to 7 pm. 

Yesterday was the fall dinner. We served 427 people, which was over 100 more than we thought we would have based on last fall's numbers. I was there from 8:30 am to 8 pm.  We had about 7 people for most of the day and then another 6 showed up from 4 pm on.  We are a small group so it is a lot of work, but at least it was a success financially.  The tilt skillet in the final pic cooked over 900 pieces of chicken, was then cleaned and cooked all the green beans.
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Title: Re: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: Greg1 on October 14, 2017, 08:48:58 AM
That's awesome to hear!  Congrats on the great turnout, love it when all the hardwork turns out with a positive result.
Title: Re: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: Jcorwin818 on October 14, 2017, 09:06:07 AM
Great job. :clap:
Title: Re: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: GREG-B on October 14, 2017, 09:27:41 AM
For all you can eat, $12 doesn't seem like it's all that far out of line.  And apparently 427 other people didn't think so either.   :bbq:
Title: Re: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on October 14, 2017, 10:08:11 AM
Nice work!  I don't think I have ever seen a piece of equipment like that tilt skillet.  For a small town, that is a very nice community center kitchen and facility.
Title: Re: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: Quadman750 on October 14, 2017, 10:36:55 AM
I don’t think it’s over priced at all, good turn out. Congratulations.
Title: Re: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: DE on October 14, 2017, 10:49:35 AM
It's a great thing you guys do, hard work, but a good good thing!
Title: Re: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: Mudflap on October 14, 2017, 10:51:18 AM
I would say $12 a plate with certain size portions maybe over priced...But you added "ALL YOU CAN EAT" :clap: I would say your spot on or even under a few  :2cents:. Then the numbers keep going up so I would say more spot on also.

My son joined our small town Volunteer fire department within the last year. Over the years on PH I have saw several folks cook for there fire departments. I need to get my nerve up to try it on there drill night sometime.

Mudflap
Title: Re: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: Brushpopper on October 14, 2017, 11:48:28 AM
Excellent cause and $12 is cheap considering the all you can eat part.  What would someone pay if a fire was threatening their house and there was no volunteer fire department to save it?  Just asking.
Title: Re: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: urnmor on October 14, 2017, 11:49:49 AM
great job well done
Title: Re: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: Kristin Meredith on October 14, 2017, 11:57:26 AM
Nice work!  I don't think I have ever seen a piece of equipment like that tilt skillet.  For a small town, that is a very nice community center kitchen and facility.

It was all paid for by the Brandy Station Volunteer Fire Dept.  The complex has a hall that holds 300 at tables and chairs, a big commercial kitchen, two sleeping quarters for fire fighters, a nice lounge and small kitchen for the fire fighters, a meeting room for the Aux and fire fighters, and then 3 big bays for the fire engines and other equipment.  It is very top notch (although all our fire trucks are used) and I believe they paid the "mortgage" off on it about 10 years early -- due on part to the fund raising by the Aux (we have traditionally raised $50,000 per years for the VFD).

All the FD here in Culpeper County are volunteer as are most of the  EMS. There are 7 in the county and they are all mutual aid.  They each only receive $50,000 from the county per year to operate, so each dept needs to raise the rest of the money for equipment, training, mortgages, utilities on its own. Our firefighters are all volunteers -- county wide.  I am glad to be able to "help row the boat" in this small way.
Title: Re: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: pmillen on October 14, 2017, 01:02:33 PM
For all you can eat, $12 doesn't seem like it's all that far out of line.  And apparently 427 other people didn't think so either.   :bbq:

I expect to pay a bit more than restaurant prices when eating at a fundraiser.
Title: Re: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: Bobitis on October 14, 2017, 01:39:11 PM
Nice work!  I don't think I have ever seen a piece of equipment like that tilt skillet.  For a small town, that is a very nice community center kitchen and facility.

It was all paid for by the Brandy Station Volunteer Fire Dept.  The complex has a hall that holds 300 at tables and chairs, a big commercial kitchen, two sleeping quarters for fire fighters, a nice lounge and small kitchen for the fire fighters, a meeting room for the Aux and fire fighters, and then 3 big bays for the fire engines and other equipment.  It is very top notch (although all our fire trucks are used) and I believe they paid the "mortgage" off on it about 10 years early -- due on part to the fund raising by the Aux (we have traditionally raised $50,000 per years for the VFD).

All the FD here in Culpeper County are volunteer as are most of the  EMS. There are 7 in the county and they are all mutual aid.  They each only receive $50,000 from the county per year to operate, so each dept needs to raise the rest of the money for equipment, training, mortgages, utilities on its own. Our firefighters are all volunteers -- county wide.  I am glad to be able to "help row the boat" in this small way.

And the giving goes on... Well played Meredith's!  :clap:

I won a pit on the former site and donated it to the local FD. Sadly, it left a foul taste in many mouths when the district failed to post anything about its use. It's nice to see your contributions are acknowledged.  :pig:

Title: Re: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: Trooper on October 14, 2017, 02:18:42 PM
Way to go Meredith's

Bent looks right at home in that super commercial kitchen.
Title: Re: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: Kristin Meredith on October 14, 2017, 02:28:38 PM
For all you can eat, $12 doesn't seem like it's all that far out of line.  And apparently 427 other people didn't think so either.   :bbq:

I expect to pay a bit more than restaurant prices when eating at a fundraiser.

I agree.  To go to the IHOP in town for a fried chicken dinner is $10.  Add a drink and dessert and you are at about $14.  Then tax (with our meals tax, that is a total of 11.5% more) and a tip and you are at $17-18 and it is not home made and not all you can eat.  So I think $12 is a good deal.
Title: Re: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: SmokinHandyman on October 14, 2017, 02:39:31 PM
 :clap:
Title: Re: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: waskawood on October 14, 2017, 04:54:06 PM
It's a fundraiser for crying out loud. You should be applauded for your hard work.
Title: Re: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: hughver on October 14, 2017, 05:18:37 PM
Great job, the country needs more people like you guys.   :clap:
Title: Re: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: GrillinGlen on October 14, 2017, 05:21:00 PM
It's a fundraiser for crying out loud.

I'm not used to all volunteer FD,  I would hope the community backs them, what if they just ran out of $, ....sorry sir, we didn't have $ to fix the fire engine, get out the hot dogs were going to just watch your house burn.  You guys are awesome
Title: Re: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: Timbo1010 on October 14, 2017, 09:19:42 PM
I'm sorry but someone complaining about the price at a fundraiser is just pathetic  :puke:

With a background in retail, one of the hardest things in the beginning was learning no matter what you do you won't be able to please everyone. You could give the meal away and someone would still complain.

Beautiful job on the fundraiser by the way
Title: Re: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: Phrett on October 15, 2017, 03:35:28 AM
Kudos      :clap:
Title: Re: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: ZCZ on October 15, 2017, 06:21:29 AM
For all you can eat, $12 doesn't seem like it's all that far out of line.  And apparently 427 other people didn't think so either.   :bbq:

I expect to pay a bit more than restaurant prices when eating at a fundraiser.

I agree.  To go to the IHOP in town for a fried chicken dinner is $10.  Add a drink and dessert and you are at about $14.  Then tax (with our meals tax, that is a total of 11.5% more) and a tip and you are at $17-18 and it is not home made and not all you can eat.  So I think $12 is a good deal.

Indeed. Good job all around. Nice work.
Z
Title: Re: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: DMAXNAZ on October 15, 2017, 08:34:06 AM
Nice turnout. The word must have gotten around after last year's cook that the food was terrific.
Title: Re: This is how we spent our Friday the 13th
Post by: Kristin Meredith on October 15, 2017, 08:54:57 AM
They have been doing this for about 6 years, twice a year.  But our turnout can vary from a high of over 500 to a low of about 250.  Don't know why the difference -- guess folks have to be in the mood for fried chicken!  But it makes planning a bit difficult.