Rotary steak fry rescheduled

The Gratiot County Fair for Youth’s decision to change its format this year allowing only exhibitors and a minimal number of spectators on the grounds due to COVID-19 restrictions placed a local service organization’s large annual fundraising event in jeopardy.

For more than 40 years the Alma/st. Louis Rotary Club has held its highly successful steak fry during the fair.

However, rather than cancel the event club members have decided to simply change the location.

This year’s steak fry will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 30 in Alma’s Wright Park.

Depending on the weather the club usually serves between 700 and 900 meals, according to Rotary Club spokesman Garth Anderson.

“We normally order 900 steaks,” he said. “This year we don’t expect it to be anywhere near that but we’re planning on 400 to 500.”

The meals, which includes a 10-ounce ribeye steak from Helman’s Market, potato salad, baked beans and a cookie for $10, will be

available for take-out only.

“People will pull up and won’t even have to get out of their vehicles,” Anderson said. “We will bring the meals to them. We will be wearing masks to comply with COVID guidelines.

“For $10, it’s still the best meal value in town.”

Because of the low price the club doesn’t make much on the meal itself but

it does from event sponsors.

“We made over $12,000 last year and have worked diligently on giving all of that away for community organizations and events,” Anderson said.

As examples he noted that in the past the club has given $5,000 as the main sponsor for the “Everyone Together Camp,” $10,000 for Child Advocacy’s building project and $5,000 to various food banks and pantries during the coronavirus crisis.

The Rotary has also donated funds to the local Big Brothers Big Sisters, Toys for Tots campaign, United Way’s Stuff the Bus, Camp Cutler, Salvation Army, and Central Michigan Youth for Christ.

“We also sponsored a new orphanage in Sierra Leone, Africa a few years ago,” Anderson said. “We donated $15,000 and with the help of a Rotary Global Grant, that turned out to be over $53,000. We now give annually to maintain the orphanage.”