BBQ fundraiser benefits fire department
Trending
LEWISTOWN -- Summer must be coming as it's time to fire up the barbecue.
In this case, let the City Hook and Ladder Fire Co. No. 14, 317 Valley St., Lewistown, do it on Friday as the firehouse is holding its first chicken barbecue of the year.
"We usually do one a month for six months," said City Hook and Ladder Fire Co. Capt. Ryan Barlett of the barbecues which are typically held from April through October. "Chicken barbecues are one of our biggest fundraisers; it's why we do it monthly."
The fire company sells chicken halves for $7 each. They average between 175 to 200 chicken halves sold.
"During COVID, we averaged about 300," he explained. "That was because people couldn't go out to eat."
Now, they can't wait to bite into chicken made with Lt. Willie Baumgardner's secret recipe.
"He's our chicken master," Barlett said. "It's his recipe. He uses it for all our chicken barbecues. He orders everything he needs weeks ahead of time then comes in at like 7 or 8 on Friday to get his recipe together."
Baumgardner also gets the pit ready before lighting the fire. But there is an art to cooking these birds.
"It's more than just lighting a fire and putting the chicken on a stick," Barlett said. It's all in the secret recipe, in which the captain would not reveal
any of the ingredients.
Individual pre-orders are not required, Barlett said, and the first round of chicken comes off the grill around 3 p.m.
Sinister Mini Donuts food wagon and Fresh Squeezed Lemonade trailer will
also be on hand.
Tickets for the City Hook and Ladder Fire Co.'s current raffles are also available.
"The chicken barbecue brings in folks to buy other tickets while they're there," Barlett said.
To place an order, please call (717) 543-3562.
Visit their website at City Hook and Ladder