Story, photo by Tammy Sue Struble
On April 7, the Dade City Kiwanis raised funds for area kids at their annual Roy Hardy fish fry in the Badcock Furniture parking lot. This year’s sponsors were Jarrett Ford Lincoln and Pasco Regional Medical Center.
“We’ve been doing fish fries since 1949 for Rotary or Kiwanis in Dade City and Zephyrhills, all over,” explained Roy Hardy. “We always have this particular event the first Thursday of every April.”
Years ago, Hardy saw how the Kiwanis in Brooksville was involved with the community and he wanted to be a part of it. Although a graduate of Hernando High, Roy moved to the Dade City area after World War II.
“I happened to be invited to be a guest at a particular Kiwanis meeting by two different people,” Hardy said. He was asked to join and didn’t look back. Hardy says he has perfect attendance for 64 years.
When asked why the fish fry was called the Roy Hardy fish fry he said that, “we just started doing them (fish fry fundraisers) and it (his name) stuck.”
Kiwanis Club president Mike Carr said that they fried around 900 pounds of catfish and served about 800-900 dinners, earning about $3,500.
All in all, the Dade City Kiwanis fundraisers earn more than $10,000 a year. Carr said about $5,500 to $6,000 of it will go to kids in need of eyeglasses. Other donations may go to places like Boy Scouts, Key Club or other children’s organizations.
“It’s all for the kids…the kids need it,” he said.
