The Schuyler County Fair in Rushville invites everyone to a free-will meal aimed at helping the families of a recent tragedy.
On Monday the Rushville community was rocked by a horrific two-vehicle crash that claimed the lives of two adults and three preschool children from the area.
Members of the Schuyler County Fair quickly came together to put together a fish fry fundraiser that will be held most of the day on Sunday to help not only the families of the victims but also the community as a whole.
The fish fry is a carry-out-only event and will take place at the Schuyler County Fairgrounds in Rushville. Nate Wallice with the Schuyler County Fair said the day after the accident, members began working to figure out how they could help.
“Tuesday morning some of us got together and we were trying to figure out what we could do to help raise money for those families. And luckily, we have one the fairgrounds here are pretty good sized and some buildings.
We have a newer food building that we can set up and do all the fish frying there and all the delivery. We have a big median around the entire fairgrounds that we can line up the cars on here and we only have the space, and twenty board members to help put it all together.”
There is no cost for just holding the fish fry because the organizers want to make it a completely free donation offering. Wallace said immediately, many community members stepped up to help make the event happen.
“And now, of course, the volunteers just pour in. We have tons of help and really great help. It’s really incredible how much help has come out for this thing and we’re going to do it. It’s going to be big and we hope to raise a lot of money for these families.”
Wallace said that even if someone wants to contribute but doesn’t have the means to donate funds, they should consider themselves welcome to join the meal because the event aims to raise community spirit as much as it raises funds. .
In a related move, the Versailles Fire Department canceled its planned fish fry also scheduled for Sunday, in an effort to help drive traffic to the Schuyler County event.
The carry-out-only fish fry will run from 11 a.m. Sunday to 7 p.m., featuring a menu of fried fish, baked beans, potato salad, bread and butter, and drinks.
Delivery service is only available within Rushville city limits. Anyone requiring delivery should call 217-248-5388 to place your order.
Attendees are asked to enter the fairgrounds on East Scripps Street in Rushville where volunteers will direct you on how to proceed through the line.
