Lone Tree

During the first annual Lone Tree Fire & Rescue Tenderloin Meal, many people came out to support the department, filling the American Legion with hungry visitors.

The department normally holds chicken dinners each year, but this year decided to add a tenderloin meal. 

All proceeds from the fundraiser go to the department to help purchase new equipment.

Although this was the department’s first tenderloin meal, it has been holding chicken dinners for the past several years.

Firefighter Nancy Ford, who volunteered at the event, explained why the department originally started serving the meals.

“We’ve been doing the chicken dinners for the last couple of years, starting the year after COVID. Because we don’t have a restaurant in town, we wanted to do something to help out the community. The closest place to eat is in Iowa City, and nobody wants to drive there all the time. This gives people a place to eat without having to make the drive to Iowa City.”

Those who attended had their choice of a breaded or grilled tenderloin, along with potato salad, coleslaw and a cookie.

One of the visitors who attended had recently celebrated his 99th birthday and is a Korean War veteran.      

Ford was the first person attendees saw when they entered the American Legion. According to Ford, the department served 378 meals and raised about $2,000.

She said she was thrilled with the turnout, especially with the State Fair going on and many people away on vacation.

“It was a great number because the State Fair was going on, and I know there were people attending that, plus people were on vacation. So, we were very happy with the number of people who attended.”

About 10 to 11 members of the department volunteered at the event, along with staff from Jerry and Margie’s Catering, bringing the total number of people helping with the fundraiser to around 15.

Attendees also had the option to dine in or get their meals to go. Ford said more people chose to stay and eat than they typically see during the chicken dinners.

“We also had a larger number of people who dined in. They could dine in or get carryout, and with the chicken dinners, we have a lot of carryout orders.”

Lone Tree Fire & Rescue thanked the community for the turnout and support in a post on Facebook.

“Thank you to everyone who came out and joined us for the Tenderloin meal Wednesday evening. It was great to see the Legion full of people visiting and enjoying an evening out locally and your continued support for Lone Tree Fire Rescue.”

The next Lone Tree Fire & Rescue fundraiser will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 14.