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Kiwanis Pancake Days is here

Every year, now for 65 years, a homecoming of sorts has occurred over pancakes.

“When I was in high school I was president of the Key (Kiwanis Educate Youth) club back in 2004 and helped set up and was in the dining room,” said Will Johnson, of Marietta.

But now Johnson is serving through Kiwanis International in a different capacity, though Friday and Saturday’s Pancake Days will be the constant in both instances.

“It’s still similar to what it was then, with the silent auction baskets and 100 percent of the profits getting reinvested back into the local community,” said the club’s 2019 president. “It’s our once per year fundraiser and we typically serve about 8,000 pancakes and raise more than $20,000.”

That money raised is then invested into recognizing good behavior with the TERRIFIC Kids program at Harmar and Phillips elementary schools, a monthly program that buys lunch for students recognized for their responsibility and other attributes of character.

“We also maintain the picnic shelter on Gilman Avenue, and the floods are always tough on that,” Johnson said. “And we sponsor Key Clubs to encourage youth into lives of community service as well.”

Johnson said the annual event, held at the First Congregational Church on Front Street in Marietta this Friday and Saturday, is often used by families to reconnect with friends each year.

“Everybody comes for a different reason,” echoed Kiwanis member Linda Eddy. “Some come for the pancakes and sausages, others to see friends they haven’t seen since last year and some come to see what new variety we have in the silent auction items and the elite auction items.”

Eddy has spent the last year building up the donations for those silent auction items, building baskets around themes.

“The big ones people look for are the dinners it seems,” she said. “We have a Marietta adventure basket which includes a night’s stay at the Lafayette Hotel, dinner for two and then tickets to Peoples Bank Theatre. But we also have several kid-themed baskets.”

One such basket she mentioned follows the theme of the childhood character Curious George.

Plus there will be an Elite Raffle which will give away a 50-inch Vizio TV, Fit bit Versa, a 9.6-inch Samsung tablet, a 15.6-foot Sundolphin Mackinaw canoe with paddles, a two-person camping tent with fire pit and a Yeti cooler.

Johnson said event is one that can’t be missed if you live in or around Marietta, and there are even two days to ensure no excuses.

Friday’s pancakes will be hot and ready between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and again from 5 to 7 p.m.

Then Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. the same meal, including sausages, orange slices and coffee sponsored by Memorial Health System, donated Crystal Spring water and milk provided by Broughton will finish off the meals.

Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased from any Kiwanis member or at Vogue- Swift Cleaners or Peoples News for $5 in advance or for $8 at the door. Children under age 5 eat free with any ticket holder. The menu includes all -you-can-eat pancakes, two sausage patties, orange slices and beverages.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call Linda Eddy at 740-373-9205.

If you go:

¯ What: 65th annual Pancake Days.

¯ When: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 5 to7 p.m. Friday, and from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to7 p.m. Saturday.

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

¯ Why: To benefit the Marietta Kiwanis service club.

¯ Cost: $5 in advance; $8 at the door.

¯ For tickets or information: Linda Eddy, 740-373-9205

Source: Times research.

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