WAUWATOSA, Wis.— Volunteers at St. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church hold Fish Frys from August until May. 

But, the Lenten Season is the busiest time of year. 

“Our Lent is a little bit different. It goes off a different calendar for Greek Orthodox, but during Catholic Lent, as soon as that kicks off, our sales jump up tremendously,” said Nico Marlis, St. Constantine and Helen parish council president 

His church serves a lot of people during fish frys. 

“During Lent, typically in a normal year, I don’t know about this year, but we’d be selling close to 300 to 330 meals,” Marlis said. 

The weekly dinner brings in many loyal customers. 

“I’ve been coming here for about eight years. I’m a Roman Catholic Priest, so I always try to patronize the competition,” said Mike Barrett as he picked up dinner on Friday night. 

Marlis said not being able to have people gather together to eat is tough. 

“It’s a way for us to know our neighbors, and volunteers enjoy spending this time together and kind of doing good for the church, and feeding. You know, we’re Greeks. We like to feed people,” Marlis said.

It’s something they didn’t want to give up on, so to-go it is.

A lot of churches across Wisconsin are also going that route. 

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s website shows several churches are doing curbside or to-go fish frys for the first Friday of Lent. 

Barrett said he’s glad to see so many churches, regardless of denomination, keep the Milwaukee tradition alive. 

“Usually the people of the Parish are the ones who step up and really put in the time and the hard work and the talent and the labor, and I love it,” Barrett said. 

St. Constantine and Helen said all of the tips the volunteers are collecting for their fish frys will be collected and donated to a local charity in the spring.