Kiwanis club hosts 87th pancake feed December 11

The Fort Scott Kiwanis Club will be raising funds one pancake at a time on Thursday.

The 87th Annual Fort Scott Kiwanis Club Pancake Feed will be the group's most substantial fundraising event this year. The event, which will be conducted from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11, at the Scottish Rite Temple, 110 S. Main St., will help provide assistance to area youth. Fort Scott Kiwanis Club treasurer Philip Gorman said he hopes the fundraiser generates enough funds to meet a wide variety of local needs.

"We give it (funds) all back," Gorman said. "We are trying to give it a good hard push this year. It's an opportunity for us to help when youth organizations and schools have needs. Children are our number one priority. When we give our money, that's who we try to help."

Because of the current economic situation, Gorman said the likelihood of more youth-related needs arising is high.

"I do think more people will need help," Gorman said. "It is as important as ever because times are tough."

According to event chairman Steve Floyd, the annual event has become an anticipated occurrence each year.

"A lot of people enjoy coming to it (pancake feed) every year," Floyd said. "They kind of expect it each year."

Gorman said having the support of local businesses is one contributing factor to the event's success each year. Businesses who contribute $100 toward the fundraiser are considered corporate sponsors. Residents who purchase pancakes at the event are another ingredient to the event's favorable outcome.

"We really appreciate the help of corporate sponsors," Gorman said. "There are so many businesses in the community that support us. We can't thank them enough."

According to Gorman, event organizers are working diligently to speed up the pancake production process in order to provide quicker service to those who attend this year's event.

The Kiwanis Club is a global organization of volunteers who are dedicated to "changing the world one child and one community at a time," according to Kiwanis member Dale Johnson. According to Johnson, the club provides funding to about 15 various youth-oriented organizations in the local community.

Johnson said organizations and programs that benefit from Kiwanis assistance include Little League Baseball, The Beacon, Fort Scott Community College Endowment Scholarship Fund, Fort Scott Middle School Football, Eugene Ware's Ready, Set, Read program, and several others.

On an average, the club has contributed about $7,000 to the local community each year for the last three years, Johnson said.

According to Floyd, members of the Fort Scott High School Key Club will volunteer their time at the pancake feed. Event tickets, which cost $4, can be purchased from any Kiwanis Club member, Key Club member, or at the door the day of the event. Children 5 and under will be served free of charge. Event attendees will be served pancakes, sausage and their choice of juice or coffee.