How Do You Get Enough Volunteers for a Parish Fish Fry?

Why Volunteer Signups Matter as Much as the Menu

Every parish fish fry has its signature recipe.
Crispy batter. Beloved sides. A line out the door on Friday night.

But ask any fish fry coordinator what really determines whether the event runs smoothly, and the answer usually isn't just the food.

It's the volunteers.

Fish fries are one of the most beloved—and demanding—traditions in parish life. They bring people together across generations, strengthen community during Lent, and support parish fundraising efforts—one Friday night at a time.

Behind the scenes, though, they require dozens (sometimes hundreds) of volunteer shifts to be filled week after week.

For many parishes, the success of a church fish fry depends on its most important ingredient: volunteers.

The Hidden Challenge of Fish Fry Volunteering

The very things that make fish fries special also make filling volunteer shifts challenging.

Fish fries just aren't like regular Sunday ministries.

Sunday ministries are often supported by a core, rotating group of volunteers who serve year-round —whether it's reading, distributing communion, or serving at the altar. Many churches rely on Ministry Scheduler Pro to organize these worship roles every Sunday.

A parish fish fry is different.

It's a temporary, seasonal effort that attracts a wider mix of people, many of whom may be volunteering for the first time. There are more shifts to fill, more job types, and more crowd control—all packed into a single evening.

Fish fry volunteers might sign up to help with:

• Dessert tables
• Fryers and food prep
• Beverage stations
• Bussing tables
• Dishwashing and cleanup
• Jump-in-where-needed support

These roles often involve hot food, sharp tools, handling cash, and long prep or cleanup hours. Having enough helping hands is critical to keeping everything running smoothly.

Without a clear system in place, a fish fry can become stressful for parish leaders.

Why Fish Fry Volunteer Signups Need a Different Approach

When volunteer signups are spread across emails, paper forms, or spreadsheets, parishioners may hesitate. They're unsure what's needed or whether they're signing up for the right role.

That's why many churches use Unison to simplify volunteering for church events, like fish fries.

With Unison, parishes can create an ad-free signup that makes it easy for volunteers to:

• See open roles at a glance
• Choose shifts that fit their schedule
• Sign up without back-and-forth emails
• Receive clear reminders and updates

The goal is more than just filling shifts—it's making volunteering clear, welcoming, and manageable for everyone involved.

A Fish Fry Tradition Done Right: St. Pius V

In St. Louis, the Lenten fish fry at St. Pius V Catholic Church is more than a meal—it's a hallmark of the community.

Recognized as one of the top-ranked fish fries in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, the event draws a steady crowd and a faithful group of volunteers.

When St. Pius V used Unison to organize volunteers for the annual fish fry, it gave volunteer coordinator Peggy Stein something she hadn't fully seen before: the full picture.

For the first time, Peggy could clearly see who had signed up, how often people were serving, right from her phone. The numbers were striking: of her 105 volunteers, nearly 70% signed up for three or more shifts—meaning many volunteers were helping for nearly half of the fish fry season.

"It was amazing to see those numbers," Peggy shared. "When someone signs up for three shifts, they're really committing. Some of those shifts are long—two to four hours, or more—especially earlier in the week with prep work like baking desserts or chopping vegetables."

That visibility brought both reassurance and gratitude. Instead of worrying whether enough people would show up, coordinators could focus on the fish fry experience itself—welcoming guests, serving up a great meal, and keeping the event running smoothly.

From One Fish Fry Shift… to Deeper Parish Involvement

For Peggy, the heart of the fish fry has always been the people.

At the end of each Friday night—after the food is served and the cleanup stretches late—there's a sense of camaraderie. Volunteers relax, talk, laugh, and reflect on what went well.

"Volunteering at the fish fry gives people a chance to work alongside others and really get to know each other," Peggy reflected. "There's a lot of positive energy. You meet people you see at Mass but haven't talked to before. We see it all the time; that's how deeper involvement begins."

The fish fry creates a natural, low-pressure opportunity to say yes. Volunteers serve shoulder to shoulder, share conversation during prep and cleanup, and begin to feel connected. Some volunteers return week after week. Others go on to serve in outreach programs throughout the year.

When parishes capture volunteer information in one place—using a signup tool like Unison—they're also able to follow up intentionally: sending a heartfelt thank-you, sharing what's coming next, and inviting volunteers to take another step, whether that's a ministry training or the next parish event.

Serving together builds community—and that shared experience is what keeps people coming back.

The Easiest Way to Organize Fish Fry Volunteers

A great church fish fry depends on people who serve.

When volunteer signups are clear and well-organized:

• More parishioners step forward
• Volunteers arrive prepared and confident
• Coordinators spend less time managing logistics
• The evening feels joyful—not frantic

The menu may draw people in—but it's the volunteers who make the night possible.

Create a Free Fish Fry Signup

Unison is a free, easy way to organize volunteers for parish events like fish fries, fundraisers, and seasonal traditions.
Create a free volunteer signup and make it easier for your parish to come together this Lent—and beyond.

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