Food and philanthropy go well together. Whether motivated by hunger, generosity, or some combination of the two, folks routinely lend their culinary skills and their time to serve food for fundraisers, and even more people are usually eager to offer up their money to buy that food to complete the circle of giving. This is often done all over the country through happenings like bake sales, spaghetti dinners, pancake breakfasts, and ice cream socials.
Here in Wisconsin, we’re also known to give back with food-focused fundraisers like meat raffles, church fish frys, and—as we’ll tell you a little more about right now—the almighty brat fry. Even though the sausages aren’t actually fried, the idea of a brat fry is pretty self-explanatory. People (oftentimes kindhearted volunteers or members of a specific organization that’s benefiting from the sales) grill up bratwursts to sell to passersby outside grocery stores, in parking lots, or along the side of the road for a few hours. Sometimes there are other items available such as burgers, hot dogs, chips, soda, and water. The money raised is given to a specific cause and, if all goes well, everyone leaves happy they played their part.
Personally speaking, I’ve worked brat frys in my youth while trying to raise money for my Cub Scout troops and baseball teams. As an adult, I’ve also taken advantage of the uniquely Midwestern ability to spontaneously obtain a piping hot, ready-to-eat brat from a shack for a few bucks on a moment’s notice on my way into a store or when driving by a makeshift brat stand on the side of the road. Admittedly, it had been a little while since I’d been to a brat fry. That all changed on Saturday when I learned one was happening in my neighborhood.
Last weekend, the Lions Club and Clementine’s Tavern hosted a brat and burger cookout to help raise funds for Bay View Community Center‘s food pantry in advance of the holidays. Knowing prime grilling season was far behind us and wanting to offer the pantry a little extra support before Thanksgiving, I decided to swing through. Don’t erect a monument for me just yet, though…I also really wanted a brat on the way back from running errands on Saturday morning.
I pulled up to the Community Center just after 11 o’clock and checked out the menu. As anticipated, it was pretty standard, but had more than enough for me. I ordered a brat and a cheeseburger (with no extra charge for cheese to be added) and paid one volunteer as another plated my food that was in my hands less than two minutes after ordering. Impressive and well worth a couple more dollars in the donation jar if you ask me.
As I chatted with one of the volunteers about the Lions Club’s plans for December’s fundraiser (possibly chili, by the way) and previous visitors generously stopping to leave money without even ordering food, I loaded up my brat with kraut and yellow mustard from the condiment station. I kept the burger simple with just ketchup and mustard.
To be honest, I should have driven the half mile home to give the warm burger patty the opportunity to melt the cheese a little, but you know I ate everything in my car outside a house as fast as I could because I was hungry and impatient. Though it was the definition of “no frills,” the pre-grilled burger that was left to marinate in the juices of its bovine brethren more than did the job. (To be clear, it didn’t come with a bite taken out of it. That was all me.)
The brat (partially visible under the mountain of kraut and mustard) was no slouch. It was juicy and reminiscent of countless brats we’ve eaten while tailgating or cooking out through the years. It was nothing fancy, but we left happy and full nonetheless. Even more satisfying and filling than our $10 bounty (plus tip) was the sense of fulfillment I got from knowing that, even in these ever-darkening times, there are still amazing people giving up a significant portion of their Saturday to help raise money for others. There are still outlets like Bay View Community Center. And there’s still this distinctly Wisconsin tradition of being able to help others simply by eating a bratwurst in your car. It’s the rare guilt-free brat!
So next time you happen upon a brat fry, do yourself and your fellow human being a big favor and stop to get something.
Going to a brat fry: As delicious as it is beneficial.
