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Pancake Days returns

Helping children is the mission behind the 66th annual Kiwanis Pancake Days, which is scheduled for this weekend.

The event will be held Friday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. and from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the First Congregational Church, 318 Front St., Marietta. The price is $5 in advance, $8 at the door and children age 5 and under get in free with any ticket holder.

Tickets can be purchased in advance from any Kiwanis member, or at Vogue Swift Cleaners or Peoples News.

Melanie Singer, event chairwoman, said proceeds are given back to the community.

“(Marietta Kiwanis Club) does a lot to help the kids,” she said. “We have a few different volunteer charter groups, the Key Club at the high school and the Builders Club at the middle school.”

She said the club funds projects for youth in the community.

“We give to the Boys and Girls Club. We supply diapers to the foster program,” she explained. “Anything with kids, we usually give money. Serving the children of the world is our motto.”

Marcia Stewart, a Kiwanis past-president, said this is the one and only fundraiser the club does.

“We served more than 1,800 people last year,” she said. “They are very well attended.”

Singer added the event is a well-oiled machine and more than 3,800 pancakes were made over the two days.

Stewart said the menu includes all-you-can-eat pancakes, two sausage patties, orange slices and a beverage such as milk, coffee, orange juice or water.

She said more than $20,000 is made in the two days between the silent and elite auctions and ticket sales.

“Every year, you’ll come and it’s like an old home week. You feel like it’s a community event,” Stewart said. “People from all over come to this. You’re never a stranger.”

She noted among projects funded have also included baseball uniforms, Storybook Park at the Washington County Public Library and holiday treats for the Gospel Mission.

“There are a lot of service hours involved in the Kiwanis,” Stewart added.

Along with the meal, there will be a silent auction and elite raffle both days.

Singer said themed baskets are in the silent auction, and there is a country store where you can put tickets in for smaller baskets that contain mainly donated items.

“With our elite raffle, we have five huge prizes,” she explained. “Last year, we had a canoe, which was huge.”

Stewart said she and Kiwanis member Linda Eddy put the baskets together and the items inside come from donations, club members and volunteers. This year, 110 baskets will be auctioned off.

“There are many themed baskets. We have a movie night basket, a wedding basket, a gone fishing basket, one for Marietta College, a dog basket,” she said. “Christmas, Valentine’s Day, anything you can think of, we have it.”

Big ticket items such as a 50-inch Vizio TV, a Stihl battery packed blower set, 31.5 inch rolling fireplace with infrared electric insert, Voyager deluxe angler kayak and paddle, Yeti cooler and HP Chromebook convertible laptop are in the elite raffle.

“Elite prizes are through donations and we ask them to give us this amount to sponsor this gift,” Singer said.

If you go:

¯ Who: Marietta Kiwanis Club.

¯ What: 66th annual Pancake Days.

¯ When: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday.

¯ Where: First Congregational Church, 318 Front St., Marietta.

¯ Why: Proceeds support community services.

¯ Cost: $5 in advance from Peoples News, Vogue Swift and from any Kiwanis member, $8 at the door. Children 5 and under eat free with any ticket holder.

¯ Includes: All-you-can-eat pancakes, two sausage patties, orange slices and a beverage.

Source: Marietta Kiwanis Club.

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