Weyauwega firefighters’ fundraiser on Sunday
By Angie Landsverk
he Weyauwega Fire Department’s annual chicken barbecue will be a drive-thru event when it is held on Sunday, June 7.
“We have put together a plan that will allow us to prepare and deliver the chicken dinners to supporters without them having to get out of their vehicle and so reducing the risk of (the COVID-19) virus spread,” Fire Chief Tom Cullen told the Waupaca County Post.
He said a plan was submitted to Waupaca County Public Health explaining the department’s proposed process and how it plans to keep the public in their vehicles.
The plan includes people taking a particular route to the fire station for the event.
The route will be to drive east on Ann Street to Lincoln Street and then west on Wisconsin Street.
Members of the department will sell dinner tickets near the post office on Wisconsin Street, beginning at 9 a.m.
The cost of the chicken dinner is $10.
The dinner includes a baked potato, coleslaw, dinner roll, pickle, slice of cheese, carton of white milk and a cookie.
Those who buy one of the department’s reverse raffle tickets receive one chicken dinner with their ticket stub.
Raffle tickets are available from firefighters at a cost of $50 each, with only 350 being sold.
During interaction with the public, fire department members will wear face coverings and gloves.
The department also encourages those going through the line in their vehicles to also wear face coverings to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
After people buy their tickets, they will drive on the fire station’s apron to pick up their dinners.
Cullen said they will form a line with their vehicles so there is an organized process to pick up their chicken meals.
The raffle drawing will take place at 2 p.m.
Since it is a reverse raffle, the last ticket in the barrel will be the grand prize winner, Cullen said.
People will be able to watch the drawing live on the fire department’s Facebook page.
The winners will be contacted after the drawing.
Cullen said small fire departments have small budgets and rely on their fundraisers to produce extra funds for needed items and training.
Weyauwega’s fire department typically raises between $10,000 and $13,000 from its chicken barbecue, he said.
He said the funds are used to support the needs of the fire department members and are generally used for equipment and training.
Cullen said the department usually orders 1,500 chicken halves for the event.
Due to uncertainty about this year’s turnout, the department ordered 1,200 halves, he said.
The annual chicken barbecue is supported by others as well.
“We have help from a number of local sponsors that assist us in many ways with different donations, and we want to thank them all for their continued support as their donations help make our event profitable,” Cullen said. “Thank you to Halbach Farms, Star Dairy and Taylor Cheese.”