Patty Mastandrea and Fireman Eric Davis stand in front of some of the food that was being sold last Saturday at the Burrell Township fire hall food sale.
For the past six years, the Burrell Township fire hall has held a food sale on the third Saturday of every month. Although the crowd was lighter last Saturday because of the holidays, local residents still got a great bargain in everything from turkeys and other meats to juice, yogurt, and milk.
Joe and Patty Mastandrea from Latrobe operate the sale.
“It starts at 6, and then we go through the auction,” Patty said. “Everything is organized. The price is set, and then we sell it. At the end, we open it up to everyone to come up and buy what they want.”
Patty said a broker from Ohio is used to procure much of the food that is sold. The food is transferred into refrigerators and freezers in Latrobe, and then sent out to one of the twelve food sales held monthly by the Mastandreas in various locations. Food items are properly stored and even transported in refrigerated trucks.
Burrell Township is the only outlet in Armstrong County. The fire department receive a commission on the sale of food and has considered it an important fund-raiser.