For more than 40 years, St. Peter Roman Catholic Church in Columbia has been serving a Lenten fish fry to the community. While last year's event was cut short by the pandemic, this year the event is continuing with a few changes.

The Lenten fish fry will begin on Friday, Feb. 19, and will run on Fridays through March 26.

"We'll be offering takeout service only, from 4 until 6:30 p.m.," said Claire Storm, one of the event organizers. "(It) will be available at the Parish Center, Second and Union streets, in Columbia. Customers will be asked to wear masks and practice social distancing."

The menu will include platters of baked haddock, crab cakes, fried filet of fish or fried shrimp. Platters include baked macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, stewed tomatoes and a dinner roll. Fried fish filet sandwiches and crab cake sandwiches will also be for sale, Storm said, along with side orders of macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes and coleslaw. Additionally, homemade cream of crab soup, potato soup and cheesy broccoli soup will be for sale, and the type will vary each week. "A variety of individually wrapped baked goods made by the women of the parish will also be available," Storm noted.

The Lenten fish fry is sponsored by the Parish Council of Catholic Women with assistance from men of the parish. Storm said it's not only a long-standing tradition for the church, but it's also a way for the church to serve the community while raising money.

"Proceeds are used to fund various activities in the parish," she explained.

Customers are asked to call in orders from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday or Thursday evening each week prior to the Friday fish fry. Orders may be placed by calling 717-684-0414. Alternately, customers may email orders to stpetersfishfry@gmail.com by 8 p.m. on the Thursday evening prior to that week's dinner. Email orders should include the customer's name and preferred pickup date and time. A limited number of walk-in orders will also be available.