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  • Mt. Vernon Mayor Mary Jane Chesley bought a ticket for the Kiwanis Pancake and Sausage Breakfast on Saturday, Feb. 25, from Kiwanis President John Shrum. Also present was Glenn Littrell, Kiwanis Board member. SUBMITTED PHOTO

    Annual pancake breakfast set for Saturday
February 22, 2012

Annual Kiwanis pancake breakfast set for Saturday

By RORYE O’CONNOR rorye.oconnor@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — — The Mt. Vernon Kiwanis Club, with the help of several clubs and businesses, will host its annual breakfast on Saturday.

The 62nd annual Kiwanis Pancake and Sausage Breakfast will be held from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Rolland W. Lewis Community Building at Veterans Park.

Mt. Vernon Kiwanis Club President John Shrum said this year, an anonymous donor has pledged to pay for the tickets of up to 300 children 12 and younger.

“We’re working with District 80 to distribute them to kids who really need it,” Shrum said.

The event, which typically brings at least 2,000 people to the building for a pancake and sausage breakfast, employs the assistance of Kiwanis members, a cook from Bob Evans Restaurant and the FFA and Beta Clubs from Mt. Vernon Township High School. In addition, Shrum said, Bob Evans provides pancake mix and sausage, Kroger provides coffee, vegetable oil and other small items, FS Farm Supply provides propane to run the seven griddles Kiwanis Club members cook the sausage and flapjacks on, and Wielt Propane sets up the griddles.

Finally, the city of Mt. Vernon makes the community building available to the club, and Prairie Farms provides a refrigerated truck, milk and butter.

“There’s a lot of community involvement,” Shrum said. “The younger people want to help. Their directors break them up into shifts so they’re not working all day.”

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children, or will be $6 and $4 at the door.

“All money goes to help Kiwanis projects,” Shrum said. “We provide four scholarships to high school students, we make contributions to the (Boy) Scouts, Angel’s Cove and the United Methodist Children’s home.”

Shrum said one of the most rewarding activities the Kiwanis clubs in this region take part in is a summer and Christmas party held for special needs individuals.

At each event, 600 to 800 people with developmental disabilities get to enjoy entertainment and a meal, Shrum said.

“Five local clubs get together to bring these folks to Benton,” he said. “In the spring we have boat rides, music, tattooing, and it’s a fun day for folks who don’t have a change to get out very much.”

He said at Christmas, the clubs provide a meal, entertainment and an opportunity to have a photo with Santa Claus.

Shrum said the Mt. Vernon Kiwanis Club would benefit from new members.

“We’d be delighted to have some new members,” he said. “We meet Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. at Bob Evans. We try to have a good variety of speakers at the meetings. The folks learn a lot about what’s going on in this area.”

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