The Mount Airy Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast took place on November 8. It was held at the Calvary United Methodist Church, which has been hosting the event since 1976.
One of the people that helped run the event was the Kiwanis Club of Mount Airy treasurer, and Kiwanis Advisor to LHS Key Club, Angie Moore. She has been the chairperson of Kiwanis Club of Mount Airy’s fall and spring pancake breakfast fundraisers since 1992. She explained the amount of teamwork involved to host a successful event.
The Linganore Key Club has been a part of this Breakfast since 2011 volunteering and some of the Linganore students have attended.
“It takes many volunteer hours (roughly 150 total) plus volunteer groups (Kiwanis, Linganore and South Carroll Key Clubs, Scout Troop 460, Pack 460)” Moore said.
This event required everyone to work together, even if they might not necessarily know each other. There were different shifts, which volunteers signed up for, so they knew how many people would be there in each window of time. Many volunteers had to report early in the morning to make the event happen.
Linganore High School (LHS) freshman Saanvi Hirematha said, “Everyone was really kind and sweet … if you had a question, they would most likely know the answer, and they would answer you if they didn’t. Then, they would probably take you to an adult who would know that.”
Approximately 260 customers attended the event, which took about 60 volunteers to serve.
The cost of the pancake breakfast was $12 for adults and children 12 and up, $6 for children 6 – 11, and free for children 5 and under.
The breakfast was all-you-can eat, so customers are allowed as much as they want without additional charge.
One of the other traditions of the Mount Airy pancake breakfast is a visit from Santa. The Kiwanis group has invited Santa to make an appearance for the past 10 years.
This year, there were many little children present. They made their excitement and love for Santa known. Many children would go over multiple times to hang out with Santa and tell him what they want as a Christmas present, if they want anything.
This breakfast was set up to support many things around the community.
“They do this event to raise funds for community projects, especially those that benefit children, to support local youth programs, scholarships and other non-profit organizations,” LHS science teacher Lynn Fox, advisor for Linganore’s Key Club, said.
Some of the projects the pancake breakfast raises funds for include Mount Airy Library Children’s Department. They help the book and STEM project donations to Parrs Ridge ES and Twin Ridge ES. It also raises money for the Mt Airy Net, Sleep In Heavenly Peace bed builds and more.
Everyone that attended this breakfast seemed to be enjoying their breakfast, and were wearing bright smiles whenever they were walking around, or when some of the volunteers would come over and ask if they could be of service. There is going to be another Kiwanis pancake breakfast in the spring on March 14.
