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HOLTS SUMMIT, MO -- It's that time of year again. The Lenten season started on Wednesday, and that means fish fries for the next several Fridays in a row.

St. Andrew Catholic Church in Holts Summit hosted their first one of the year Friday night.

Ten bubbling pots of hot oil were lined up on the outskirts of the church, with dozens of volunteers carting in trays of fish and french fries.

This may not seem like a lot of food, but it is compared to past years.

"Well, it used to be just a small pot, you know. And now we're up to what...Two thousand? Two thousand pounds of fish," said Glenn Farris, who volunteers with the Knights of Columbus.

Glenn and his friends at the Knights of Columbus say that the fish fries have grown in the 12 years they have been working them together.

Everyone seemed to be in good sprits tonight.

"The best part of it is probably the comraderie of it, just hanging out with the guys," said Glenn.

Inside the gym, dedicated volunteers served visitors along a buffet line, complete with catfish, baked potatoes, french fries, coleslaw, apple sauce, spaghetti and desserts.

Most volunteers are veterans when it comes to the annual fish fry.

"Oh, I've worked here for about I don't know, five, six, seven years, I don't remember for sure," said volunteer Diane Carney.

At the carry-out building around 7 p.m., volunteers said they sold more than 300 meals, not including those who stayed for dinner in the gymnasium.

Each Friday (excluding Good Friday) through Easter visitors can eat for $10 from 4 to 7 p.m. at St. Andrew.

More fish fries around mid-Missouri can be found on our community calendar.