Berks rings in the New Year

1,000 meals served at Pa. Dutch pork and sauerkraut dinner

The traditional New Year’s Day pork and sauerkraut fundraiser on Saturday at the Ruscombmanor Township Fire Company saw double the servings in 2022 than in 2021 when pandemic protocols put a damper on cherished community gatherings.

With the help of Boy Scouts, about 25 volunteers served an estimated 1,000 meals, according to

Sharliene Bowers, deputy chief.

“This is a little above what we usually get,” Bowers said, referring to the turnout and response. “We’ve extended our times a little but we had people banging on the doors at 10 a.m.”

It was different from last year when the event was limited by restrictions on large gatherings and dining indoors and organizers had no idea what to expect for a takeout-only fundraiser.

The fire company cooked 1,100 pounds of pork, about 600 pounds of sauerkraut and 750 pounds of mashed potatoes.

Green beans, corn, dinner rolls, and dessert rounded out the meal that cost $12 for adults. There were about 30 tables with seating for people to spread out.

Around 11 a.m., the seating was about a third filled and the customers were steady at the takeout door.

Last year, volunteers cooked about 600 pounds of pork for takeout only.

Usually the hall is filled with 30 or more tables for the company’s biggest fundraiser, which brings in thousands of dollars to keep the lights on and firetrucks running.

Last year, some organizations had to scramble to find supplies.

Bowers said this year it’s supplier, Schuylkill Haven-based Schrimager Family Meats, through its Fairgrounds Farm

ers Market stand, came through with all the pork Ruscombmanor needed.

A line of people waiting outside the building on Pricetown Road is typical for the event.

“It’s our biggest fundraiser of the year,” Bowers said. “Our expenses don’t go away just because of COVID.”

According to Pennsylvania Dutch tradition, eating pork and sauerkraut brings luck in the New Year because a pig roots forward.

Usually a regular attendee, Sharon Reinsel of Kutztown said she missed the dinner last year. Reinel said she was glad to be back as she scooped sauerkraut onto her plate and got ready to sit down.

For Gerald Nowotarski of Oley it was his first time at the fire company event, even though he’s lived in the area for 54 years. Usually he would have dinner at home with family, he said.

This year he came to pick up a meal for himself and his son.

“I heard it’s very good and I thought I’d give it a chance,” he said.

LISA SCHEID — MEDIANEWS GROUP Sharliene Bowers, deputy chief of Ruscombmanor Volunteer Fire Company, coordinated the pork and sauerkraut fundraiser. She said crowds are better in 2022than 2021when the event was limited by pandemic protocols. She’s been involved with the pork and sauerkraut meal for 32years.

LISA SCHEID — READING EAGLE After a year away due to the pandemic, patrons returned to sit-down meals for the traditional pork and sauerkraut fundraiser at Ruscombmanor Volunteer Fire Company on New Year’s Day 2022.

Gerald Nowotarski of Oley packs up a take-out pork and sauerkraut meal with the help of Kim Bless of Fleetwood, a volunteer at the pork and sauerkraut fundraiser at Ruscombmanor Volunteer Fire Company on New Year’s Day 2022.

Sharon Reinsel of Kutztown scoops sauerkraut for her sitdown meal at Ruscombmanor Volunteer Fire Company on New Year’s Day 2022.