WHATELY — Strolling through the Whately Congregational Church’s parking lot around noon on Monday brought to life the unmistakable aroma of boiled corn. But this was just a hint of what was going on inside.
Parishioners once again rolled up their sleeves on Labor Day to dole out purchased meals of a barbecued half-chicken, fresh corn and a baked potato from local fields, a roll and a homemade brownie for what amounts to the church’s second-largest fundraiser of the year.
“We always have good years,” the Rev. Cynthia Crosson-Harrington said during the hustle and bustle in the basement at 177 Chestnut Plain Road. “It’s a wonderful church.”
Nancy Wilson, a church member and one-third of the church’s Labor Day fundraiser committee, said it is the church’s largest fundraising effort of the year after the estate sale that is typically held in May. Adults paid $20 for a meal, and tickets for children cost $10. Reservations were received by Aug. 29. Wilson said the money goes into the church’s treasury, where it can be used wherever it is needed.
Wilson explained that the church bought 223 half-chickens from Food City in Turners Falls. She said inflation has taken its toll, as they paid $2.29 per pound.
“The chickens arrived at 11:30. Doors technically open at noon, but we allow people to start coming in at 11:45 a.m.,” she said. “And what we do is, as soon as the chickens get here, we start putting our platters together, so things are packaged and the people aren’t waiting too long.
“I believe our [profit] margin will be more than last year, because we did increase the price,” she added. “The largest order we’ve had is one woman ordered 17 meals. We’ve had several that have taken eight, seven. We have a very good reputation.”
Church member John Pease was tasked with preparing the corn and potatoes.
“It’s a good year for crops,” he said during a break from his work in the kitchen. Platters are assembled fresh by volunteers after customers arrive and check in.
One of the customers was the Rev. Randy Calvo, pastor at the congregational churches in Sunderland and Hatfield.
“It’s not as good as my chicken barbecue,” he said with a sarcastic smile on his way out the door. “No, it’s very good. It’s excellent. They’ve got it down to a science.”
He said he participates each year and picked up two meals on Monday.
“It’s that good,” he said.
