Johnson City VFD frying up fish and fun for annual fundraiser
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
JOHNSON CITY — The ultimate goal of the Johnson City Volunteer Fire Department fish fry May 11 is to raise money for the department, but it goes a bit further than simply, “Come, grab a plate, eat and go.”“It’s become an incredible social event as well,” said Vicki Ralph of the JCVFD. “People enjoy just coming out and visiting with each other and learning about what we do.”
The fish fry will be held at the Blanco County Fair and Rodeo grounds, 619 U.S. 28, starting at 5 p.m. The meal, by donation, includes fried catfish, french fries, hush puppies, coleslaw, pickles, tea and a dessert.
Along with dinner, people can enjoy live music and a dance at 8 p.m. featuring the Almost Patsy Cline Band.
“They are a really fun band,” Ralph said.
And that’s what the fish fry is all about — having fun, but for a good cause. Ralph said while the department does get some funding from taxpayers, the unit holds fundraisers such as the fish fry to augment those monies.
“There’s a tremendous amount of needs for the department,” Ralph said. “The fish fry is huge because it allows us to purchase equipment we might not otherwise be able to afford.”
In the past, the fundraiser money has helped the department pay off a tanker and the JCVFD building.
Like many small towns and rural communities, volunteer units such as JCVFD provide fire protection and emergency response. Ralph said, along with the city, the department serves a wide swath of northern Blanco County but also responds to other areas when necessary.
The JCVFD is celebrating 64 years of serving the community. After a 1944 blaze that destroyed the then-elementary school and a 1948 fire that razed a portion of downtown, city leaders decided it was time to create a fire department. The elementary school at one time was the local high school, the very same one from which President Lyndon B. Johnson graduated.
According to a report by founding member George Byars, leaders held a meeting May 10, 1949, to start formal discussions about creating a volunteer fire department.
Since then, the JCVFD has been a cornerstone of the community.
Ralph said the fish fry allows the public to get a look at the fire department’s equipment, but other organizations such as the Red Cross and the local Master Gardeners also will be on hand.
“We just want people to come out, have a good time and learn a little bit about what we do,” Ralph said.
For more information, go to www.jcvfd.org.
daniel@thepicayune.com