For 30 years, Maine lobsters have been making their way south to Washington. It’s not part of a yearly mass migration. Instead, these lobsters are bound for dinner.

The Kiwanis Club of Washington recently announced its 30^th annual lobster sale, proceeds of which have helped support local youth projects for the past three decades.

According to Kiwanis Club member Marcian Bouchard, over 600 lobsters are sold at the event every year.

“That’s a lot of lobsters — it actually could be a little more than that,” Bouchard said. “It’s a major fundraiser for us.”

The lobster sale allows the Kiwanis Club to fund the Terrific Kids program, as well as local schools’ Key Clubs, a new Builders Club in the works and to give a helping hand to a few well-deserving graduates heading off to college, Bouchard said.

“We gave about $6,000 worth of scholarships this year,” he said.

The fresh lobsters arrive from Maine by refrigerated truck the day before the sale and are sold live, or cooked by Kiwanis club members. On Nov. 2, the parking lot of Dr. Jimmy Walker’s office on 15^th Street will be the pick up spot from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Bouchard said tickets are already on sale for $18 each, but it’s market forces that will determine how much the Kiwanis Club will raise.

“We pay whatever the market price is for the lobster that day, so there’s a lot of guessing involved,” he laughed.

Bouchard said, regardless, the Kiwanis Club lobsters are a good deal. And while members try to plan for last minute buyers by purchasing extra, the best way to get a taste of Maine is to go ahead and get a ticket at the following places: Schmitt’s Watch Repair, Dirks Chiropractic, Commercial Truck and Equipment Service, Office of David Francisco, Attorney, or from a Kiwanis Club member.

For more information, visit the Kiwanis website at www.washingtonkiwanis.org.