The lunch rush made way for the supper crowd at Wednesday’s Henderson Shrine Club Fish Fry.

Whether you enjoyed the fish plate at the noontime hour or supper – or both! – all proceeds for the event go to support the Shriner’s Hospital in Greenville, SC.

This is the second year the fundraiser has been held at Tony’s Auto on Raleigh Road. Traffic was steady throughout the day, and organizers hope to raise $10,000.

Shrine Club President Billy Currin shared his thought that some 1,800 plates had been served by 5:30 p.m.

It was all hard work, and longtime Shriner Donald Seifert said there was talk of a group of Shriners having fish for breakfast, but seein’ as how they were talking about meeting at 4 or 5 o’clock IN THE MORNING, Seifert said he couldn’t verify that – “I was not among that crowd,” he told WIZS about that too-early-in-the-morning gathering.

The fish has been the star of the show for more than 60 years, and each plate will had two pieces of freshly battered and fried whiting, as well as cole slaw, potato salad and hushpuppies.

There were a couple of new additions to this year’s fish fry, however, but the additions were not on any plate.

One was Tony’s famous soft-serve ice cream, available for a $1 donation for patrons who chose to dine in. The second was enjoyed by eat-in customers and double line drive-thru patrons alike. The Shrine Club’s calliope was on site, with Steve Bowman tickling the ivories throughout the day.

Ray Fields, a Shriner and Mason for 57 years, said there were a lot of pre-sales. Plus, he and a team of delivery drivers took as many as 500 plates to area businesses in the first 90 minutes – between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

“We’ve done very well, to tell you the truth,” Fields said. With the action he’d seen by 12:30 or so, he projected that the fundraiser would exceed last year’s.

“I think by 7 p.m., we’ll be very pleased” with the number of plates that were sold.

According to Fields, it costs $1.6 million an hour to operate a Shriner’s Hospital. The families don’t get a bill for the treatment their child receives at a Shriner’s Hospital or burn center.

“Without the people of Vance County, we can’t make this happen,” Fields said.

He thanked Tony Sanford and his family for opening up their unique facility to the Shriners for the fish fry.

“Tony has been so gracious to us,” Fields said.

“The food is delicious,” reported Mary Reid, who was waiting for a friend to join her. But she wasn’t waiting to eat her lunch. “I’ve enjoyed mine so far and I’m looking forward to the ice cream,” Reid said.

There were first-time customers, too, who came out to Tony’s Auto vintage ‘50’s style diner to enjoy lunch and supper.

Organizers saw a steady line all day with a big rush from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. then again from around 4 p.m. until 6 p.m., just as you might have imagined it.