WHATELY — The Whately Congregational Church once again transformed into a takeout joint on Labor Day for the house of worship’s largest fundraiser of the year.
Parishioners doled out 214 chicken dinners for what is believed to be the 50th annual barbecue to generate money for the church’s treasury, where it can be used wherever it is needed.
“It’s all good. It’s a good busy,” said Nancy Wilson, the church’s treasurer. “We even opened a little bit early.”
The event’s popular menu remains unchanged — a barbecued half-chicken, with local corn, a baked potato, a roll and a brownie. Wilson said the birds, each weighing at least 1½ pounds, were purchased from Food City in Turners Falls. Galenski Farm in South Deerfield donates the corn and Szawlowski Potato Farms in Hatfield contributes the potatoes, while Alan Sanderson of Fairview Farms transported the vegetables to the church.
“We are all older, and Alan has a truck” Wilson explained. “He tells the farmers how many potatoes we need, how much corn, and he brings it to us. It takes us, really, a couple of days to prepare. We husked the corn this morning. Yesterday we wrapped potatoes and on Saturday we scrubbed potatoes. So we are all very well-organized.”
People who had reserved dinners parked at the church and checked in before entering the church basement and collecting their food. Tickets for adults cost $17 and tickets for children cost $5. Reservations were required by Aug. 22.
The chicken was prepared at the Whately Fire Station, where a barbecue pit was built several years ago. Chief JP Kennedy said the Whately Firefighters Association had 10 people barbecuing the chickens on Monday so they could be brought to the church on Chestnut Plain Road.
“It’s just a way for the Firefighters Association to give back to the community a little bit,” he said. “The church does a lot for the community. It’s just our way of participating.”
Adelia Bardwell, a Whately resident and church member the entire 88 years of her life, said the church’s Ladies Benevolent Society started the dinner as a fundraiser and social event. It is now organized by the church’s Stewardship Committee. The event was held sit-down style until the COVID-19 pandemic changed that.
While some small-town events are vanishing due to a lack of volunteers, Bardwell said that has never been an issue for the church.
“It’s a social time. People enjoy being together. It’s a three-day project,” she said. “We have a wonderful system. Different people are in charge of different things.”
Meal pickup lasted from roughly noon until 1:30 p.m.
“Most of the women that are working on this are in their 70s. So, as I say, ‘It’s a woman’s world around here,'” Wilson said with a laugh.
Correction, September 4, 2025 10:59 am: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated how long the Whately Congregational Church has been holding the Labor Day barbecue. Parishioners believe the annual meal dates back 50 years. Additionally, the chicken was purchased from Food City in Turners Falls.
