Residents flip over Pancake Day

BY BARBARA GREENBERG
Commercial-News

DANVILLE October 14, 2008 10:38 pm

— Fourteen hours may seem like a long shift. But for members of Danville’s three Kiwanis Clubs who work Thursday’s Pancake Day, it’s a labor of love.
“This is our major fundraiser,” Vera Weaver, secretary of the Golden K Club said. The event is organized by the Kiwanis Noon Club. The Kiwanis Breakfast Club helps out along with the Golden K Club.
“The Noon Club sets up the grills and the serving line,” Weaver said. “We collect tickets, make the coffee and serve it.
“By the time you get home after being there all day, you smell like pancakes,” she said.
Funds raised in the day-long event benefit more than 50 local charities, many of which serve children.
“Four of our members read to children at Headstart on Kimball Street,” Watson said. “Our motto is we serve the children of the world.”
The Golden K serves other age groups, too.
“We play bingo with the residents at North Logan Health Care every Wednesday afternoon,” Watson said.
Craig and Mary Chambers look forward to Pancake Day. Craig serves as lieutenant governor of Kiwanis Division 25, which encompasses the three Danville clubs and those in Champaign and Monticello. He and his wife have been Golden K members for about five years and the Breakfast Club before that.
Both look forward to Pancake Day as more than a fundraiser — it’s a community event.
“The sports teams from Danville High School help us serve and clean up,” Mary Chambers said. “The kids from the special education classes help out, too.”
And for 14 hours, friends and neighbors come together to eat pancakes and sausage.
IF YOU GO
Kiwanis Pancake Day takes place from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the David S. Palmer Arena. Tickets are available from any Kiwanian or by calling 442-5151 or 474-8362. Prices are $4.50 per person in advance, $5 per person at the door, $17 per book of four tickets and children ages 3-12 are two for one ticket.