Breckenridge Texan

Johnny Ponce pulls a freshly cooked turkey from one of the deep fryers during the St. Jude Knights of Columbus turkey frying fundraiser. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/ Breckenridge Texan)

Members of the St. Jude Knights of Columbus were busy on Wednesday deep-frying turkeys to fill orders for their annual Thanksgiving fundraiser.

Volunteers from the group, who had several deep fryers going in their cooking area next to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, deep-fried the turkeys and then packed them in foil-covered pans while they were still hot, for customers to pick up.

Johnny Ponce, one of the volunteers frying the turkeys, said the it takes approximately 50 minutes to cook one of the turkeys. He said deep-frying the turkeys locks the moisture in the turkey and makes a more moist turkey than baking it.

Adam Babilon, who was helping wrap the turkeys for pick-up, said the money raised from the fundraiser each year is donated to community projects such as Meals on Wheels and for building ramps for the handicapped.

In order to make sure the turkeys are ready for delivery, the group starts taking orders about a month in advance and cooks around 70 turkeys each year for the fundraiser. In addition to the turkey fundraiser, they also hold a Lenten Fish Fry each year.

Junior Fernandez wraps freshly cooked turkeys for customer pick up at the St. Jude Knights of Columbus fundraiser. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Story by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan

Cutline, top photo: Johnny Ponce (left) and Adam Babilon prepare turkeys for pick up during the St. Jude Knights of Columbus fundraiser. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)