(Photos by Gwen Sour) Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity members Julian Landauer, Bryce Moyers and Trent Lofland take a break from volunteering during the 70th annual Kiwanis Club of Marietta’s Pancake Days on Saturday.

The Kiwanis Club of Marietta flipped pancakes, served sausage and welcomed families from across the Mid-Ohio Valley this weekend as it marked the 70th year of its annual Pancake Days fundraiser, an event club leaders say blends community tradition with youth-focused philanthropy.

The two-day fundraiser drew steady crowds Saturday despite winter weather, when snow slowed traffic but did little to dampen turnout. About 270 breakfasts were served Friday, with heavier crowds reported Saturday afternoon as road conditions improved.

“This is our 70th year of Kiwanis Pancake Days,” said Scott Smith, president of the Kiwanis Club of Marietta. “Kiwanis in general is about giving back. We’re a civic club for Marietta with the whole idea of giving back to the community.”

Smith said proceeds from Pancake Days stay local and support youth-focused programs and community needs. Funds raised through the event help provide pool passes for children, support Christmas gift programs and assist local organizations serving youth and families.

“Basically, people are thanking us for doing this because it’s a community event where we all get to sit down as one family and visit with one another,” Smith said. “But the proceeds from everything we do here stay here in the local area to benefit youth in this area.”

(Photo by Gwen Sour) Kiwanis Club of Marietta’s President-elect Carrie Barth prepares pancakes for the 70th annual Kiwanis Pancake Days on Saturday.

The fundraiser also featured raffles and a country store stocked with donated items. Organizers said volunteers spent weeks preparing gift baskets and collecting donations from local supporters.

“This is our main, big fundraiser,” said Michelle Seacrest, a Kiwanis member who helped organize basket donations. “We started planning a long time ago. We have a basket team that meets several times, and people donate items or full baskets. It’s really fun trying to dress them up and make something beautiful.”

The Kiwanis Club of Marietta currently has about 52 members, and nearly all were involved in some way during the weekend, organizers said. Volunteers included members from the Kiwanis Club of Columbus, Alpha Tau Omega fraternity members from Marietta College, and local youth service clubs.

“We have people here from Columbus Kiwanis helping us out,” Seacrest said. “The Alpha Tau Omega fraternity from Marietta College helped set up and are helping tear down, and they worked the event both days. We also have Builders Club and Key Club students from Marietta and Waterford helping out.”

Organizers estimated roughly 70 volunteers rotated through the kitchen, dining area and raffle tables across the two days.

(Photo by Gwen Sour) Kiwanis Club of Marietta President Scott Smith grills sausages Saturday for the 70th annual Kiwanis Pancake Days.

Among those volunteering was Ana Kelley, a Builders Club member who helped clear tables and assist guests.

“I just like helping other people and helping run charity events,” Kelley said.

Some volunteers traveled from outside the area to help with the long-running tradition. Chad Gardner, president of the Kiwanis Club of Columbus and a Marietta College graduate, said he returns to Marietta each year to assist with Pancake Days.

“The people in this Kiwanis Club are just fantastic,” Gardner said. “The people who come out to support this event year after year are a lot of familiar faces. Even though I’m not here most of the year, it still feels like coming home.”

Smith said the fundraiser’s longevity reflects community support and a shared commitment to service.

“We’ve been fortunate to have people coming back year after year,” he said. “Some folks told me they’ve been coming for 35 years. That says a lot about what this event means to Marietta.”

Smith said the club meets twice a month and welcomes new members interested in community service. Information on joining the Kiwanis Club of Marietta is available through the organization’s website.