With over $22,000 in funds raised in one weekend, the Marietta Kiwanis Pancake Days Annual Event is the club’s largest fundraiser. Club members work enthusiastically throughout the year to collect silent auction basket donations and to prepare for the event. Pancake Days is not only a fundraiser, but has become a Marietta tradition each February. The 2014 event marked the 60th annual Pancake Days – that’s a long time for a fundraiser! The founders must be proud that the event has successfully run for so many years.

How does the club pull off such an amazing endeavor in only two days? “It’s a well-oiled machine where all the parts and pieces fit together every year,” says 2014 Pancake Days Chairperson, Chad Gardner. “The members of our club really come through for this event every year because each member knows how important it is to our service budget for the following year.”

A committee of 12-15 club members usually begin meeting in late November and have regular meetings and updates until the actual event, which is always held the first full weekend in February.

Set up for the event begins on the Thursday evening before the weekend of Pancake Days. The club members and brothers of Delta Tau Delta at Marietta College move in all of the grills, raffle items, baskets and more to set up for the next morning’s rush of hungry patrons.

The first shift of Kiwanians arrive early on Friday morning to prepare the pancakes, sausage and orange slices to begin serving at 11 AM. Many of the Friday patrons stop by on a lunch hour to meet family or friends. Saturday is much of the same, as supporters (both new faces and some that were in attendance the day before) come in during all hours of the day and evening as breakfast, lunch and dinner are served.

Marietta Kiwanis Club President, Tom Hushion, flipping pancakes on the grill.

Saturday night also brings with it the excitement of the country store, raffle items and silent auction. The Kiwanis Club members ensure that there is something for anyone as they gather materials throughout the year for the silent auction items, especially club member, Linda Eddy. “I work on putting the baskets together and wrapping them in advance of the actual event. The silent auction and raffle are a large part of our pancake event. We’re lucky to have so much support from the community in donations to the baskets and raffle items!”

Many patrons hover over the silent auction bid sheets at the tables full of the variety of themed baskets as time nears the end of the bidding process and then eagerly await the announcement of the winners.

Fun Facts About Pancake Days
• Over 1600 people are served
• 240 pounds of pancake mix is used
• 200 pounds of sausage is grilled
• 414 pounds of syrup is used

Pancake Days usually nets the Marietta club around $22,000 after expenses. The club uses these funds throughout the next year to support many worthy causes in the area such as Storybook Park, the Harmar picnic pavilion near the boat houses, academic scholarships and donations to causes such as The American Cancer Society, the Start Westward Monument, Ely Chapman, Marietta High School landscaping and other worthy causes.

While patrons initially come for the delicious food and the silent auction baskets and raffles, the club members see it every year, friends and family meeting under one roof for a common purpose, not just to partake in the deliciousness that is a hot fluffy pancake, but to meet and connect with others in the community. The Kiwanis Club of Marietta is proud to support such a worthwhile event.

If you go in 2015:
61st Annual Kiwanis Pancake Days
February 6th and 7th, 2015
First Congregational Church, 318 Front Street, Marietta
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