St. Raphael’s Episcopal Church monthly shrimp dinners return
The beach season has returned and so has one of the best deals in town, the all-you-can-eat shrimp dinners of Historic St. Raphael’s Episcopal Church.
The monthly dinners offering Gulf pink shrimp rekindled in November and will run through April. They serve as the main fundraisers for the congregation, which has approximately 100 members, senior warden Ross Miller said.
Historic St. Raphael’s Episcopal Church holds the shrimp dinners on the first Saturday of every month. The next gathering will take place on Dec. 7 at 5601 Williams Street at Comfort Hall. The cost is $20 and includes cornbread, baked beans, soda and coleslaw. Beer and wine tickets are also available. The hall and kitchen were renovated a year ago, Miller said.
While the dinners normally run from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m, the upcoming fundraiser will start at 4 p.m. to accommodate those planning to attend the Fort Myers Beach Christmas Boat Parade. Those who are heading out to the parade can pick up a dinner and carry it out with them.
“It’s extremely important,” Miller said of the fundraisers. The meals help pay for the expenses of the church, which is led by pastor John Adler. Like many other congregations, the church relies on its volunteers. Miller said the last dinner was attended by 107 people though past dinners have attracted upwards of 300 people. Miller said he will buy about 180 pounds of shrimp to serve.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Miller said. The Indiana native said the church is “very casual. Our services are every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. We are a very welcoming church, very friendly, not a lot of families but people of all ages.”