The Fort Coulonge Golden Age Club was packed Saturday night for the club’s first sea pie supper since the group lowered its minimum age for members from 65 to 50 years old this past summer.

Secretary and treasurer Rosalie Boucher said they sold all 80 tickets and had to turn people away at the door.

She said sea pie is something that should be eaten in big groups like the one Saturday night.

“Elderly people who live alone or in a couple don’t make big meals anymore and beef is very expensive to cook,” Boucher said. “It’s worthwhile for them to come and eat something they won’t make at home.”

The event also served as an opportunity to raise money to cover the club’s hefty $5,000 property tax bill for the year, and Saturday’s event got it about $900 of the way there. She said seeing a big turnout means a lot for the club.

“It depends on the people who support us, because we need it,” Boucher said. “If we don’t have their support, we’re going to die, but we’re fighting hard.”

Every pot of sea pie was scraped clean by the end of the night.

“It’s a lot of work for us but I think it’ll turn out to be something that we’ll be happy with,” Boucher said.

“We’ve encountered a lot of success today.”

Following the dinner, guests were served butterscotch pie, provided by Calumet Island Golden Age Club member Francine Gélinas.

“Rosalie told me they have a meal, but they didn’t have any dessert,” Gélinas said. “So, I said, ‘You want butterscotch pie? Well, I’m gonna make butterscotch pies.’”

Boucher said the club used to have meals at lunch time but that they plan to have more dinners because the demand is higher. She said the club plans to host a barbeque in August and continue with dinners in the fall.

“Tonight, it’s just fun, food, and good talk,” Boucher said. “Next time, maybe we’ll have some music.”