Members of the Center Street United Methodist Church in Tucumcari continued a tradition on Saturday, preparing an enchilada dinner to raise money for their church.

“We have had the dinner for over 50 years,” said Coordinator Martha Waters. “We are not sure on the exact date, but it is a tradition here at the church.”

Waters said on Monday around $2,300 was raised by the church.

Members of the church were up at 5 a.m. Saturday to prepare the chili and beans for the dinner, said Co-coordinator Tonya Rigdon.

Rigdon said the money raised will be used in mission work and supplies for the church.

Diners ordered one to three tortilla enchiladas with options that included lettuce, cheese, onions and fried eggs.

Dine-in has been the tradition, but takeout orders have increased the past two years.

“Last year we prepared 200 takeout orders,” volunteer Pam Clark said.

Takeout orders have become so popular, church members set up a separate kitchen.

“We were bumping into each other,” Clark said. “It was a mad house. Having two kitchens and a separate waiting area for takeouts is a great idea.”

The hallway outside the dinning room had lines of chairs for those walk-in customers who waited for their order and the phones were answered by volunteers ready to take orders.

In the end, more than 340 meals were served, said office manager Brian Harmon on Monday.