For many people Ash Wednesday and Fridays during lent means abstaining from meat. A popular standby is pizza.
One fire company in Schuylkill County hopes to make a profit during the Lenten season.
Fire officials said running a piece of firefighting equipment is getting much harder these days. Most fire departments are not for profit and depend on donations and fundraisers.
“The fuel for the engines is astronomical and we are the same as everybody else, the over the road trucker,” said Tom Slane of Tuscarora Fire Company.
“What it costs today with the economy to have engines on the road, we need every penny we can get our hands on,” said Joe Yesavage of Tuscarora Fire Company.
That's why volunteers are making and selling pizzas at the Tuscarora Fire Company.
“I enjoy it. It gives me something to do, excercise too, with all the lifting and walking and carrying things,” said volunteer Gloria Yesavage.
“You just get married into it. There is no way out. Reporter: Is that a good thing or bad thing? Answer: It's a good thing, these are a great group of people,” said Volunteer Linda Decindio.
The Tuscarora Fire company also delivers pizzas to those who can't get out.
“I used to go up when I could walk, I would go up to the fire company and pick stuff up but since my legs are bad,” said Walter Englert of Tuscarora.
The Tuscarora Fire Company's next fund raising effort will be April 6 which is Good Friday. They'll sponsor a fish dinner. It's another effort to pay their bills.
