County Connections: Pancake Festival continues to provide support for Kiwanis

“Children are one third of our population and all of our future.” — Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health, 1981

With a current membership of over 90 loyal members, The Kiwanis Club of Lancaster has inspired Fairfield County residents since 1919.

Though Kiwanis provides engagement opportunities for men and women of all ages, their charitable focus is on healthy child development. Locally, this encompasses a spectrum of passion projects that transform the lives of young residents, both within and outside the classroom.

One of Kiwanis’ most beloved projects is their kindergarten readiness bags, distributed to roughly 150 local children annually. These bags include a variety of educational materials, such as books, flashcards, crayons, scissors and art supplies, and provide vulnerable children with a strong start on their educational journey.

For children of pre-teen ages, Kiwanis offers a popular Little League Baseball program. Available to boys and girls between the ages of nine and twelve, this athletic program kicks off annually in April and is entirely free of charge to participant families. As a result, it offers an increasingly rare opportunity for children in need of safe and affirming recreation.

Yet not all children can access outdoor play in the same ways, and children facing developmental issues deserve meaningful opportunities to connect with peers, as well. To address this need, The Kiwanis Club of Lancaster sponsored their All Abilities Playground, located at Hunter Park. This unique play system can be navigated by wheelchair, and features equipment that can be shared by children of different ages and abilities.

School-based programs, such as Key Club at Lancaster High School, Bloom Carroll, and Fairfield Union, and Builder’s Club at Thomas Ewing, help round out the variety of programming Kiwanis offers to local youth – ensuring the broadest reach to Fairfield County families.

“I really enjoy Kiwanis because we are always looking for ways to support children in our community,” explained Andrea Spires, President of the Kiwanis Club of Lancaster.

And while club fundraises through the year to support these initiatives, one of their most successful fundraisers is also a longstanding community tradition.

First launched in 1959, the Kiwanis Pancake Festival will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lancaster High School. According to Spires, who has dedicated six-years of service to the club, roughly seventy-five percent of the organization’s membership volunteers to support this labor of love.

“We are so excited to be back,” explained Spires. “A lot of families use this as their kick off to the holidays.”

Based on the success of previous years, over 1,700 people are expected to attend the Pancake Festival, which also features a child-focused event called The Gift of Time – an opportunity for families to read books, meet Santa, create crafts and celebrate together. The Gift of Time will take place in the midst of the Pancake Festival, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Lancaster High School.

Admission to the festival is only $6 for adults and $2 for children aged ten and under. Tickets, which can be purchased at the door, provide guests with all-you-can-eat-pancakes, with juice, milk, coffee, and sausage also available.

While the Pancake Festival is a must-attend event for the child within us all, Kiwanis also offers opportunities throughout the year to show support – from Rising Park cleanups to event sponsorships and membership opportunities. Combined, these diverse activities empower the Kiwanis commitment, raising money and increasing awareness of childhood needs. And, with the generous support of friends and neighbors, The Kiwanis Club of Lancaster can continue to enrich the lives of vulnerable children in all corners of our community, and from all walks of life, for years to come.

“Here in Fairfield County, we are happy to help wherever we can,” concluded Spires.

For more information about ways to get involved with The Kiwanis Club of Lancaster, or to learn more about the Pancake Festival, follow “Kiwanis International-Lancaster, Ohio Club” on Facebook, or visit https://www.kiwaniscluboflancaster.org/

Friday, Dec. 2 through Monday, December 12, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fairfield County is hosting their first annual Holiday Hunt. This holiday-themed scavenger hunt encompasses fun activities in Fairfield and Hocking Counties. The winner of the hunt will receive a Hocking Hills Cabin Package. Participation is $10 per person and participants will need to download the Goosechase app. Please visit https://www.bbbs-fairfieldoh.org/ for download details and more information.

Saturday Dec. 3, from 12 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., Destination Downtown Lancaster will host Winterfest. The event will feature free horse-drawn carriage rides, visits with Santa, holiday music, and more – all culminating in the lighting of the Christmas tree at the Lancaster bandstand. For more information about this event, please visit https://www.destinationdowntownlancaster.com/.

Saturday, Dec. 3, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., be sure to visit the Baltimore Holiday Market, held in Johnson Park. The market will feature family activities, as well as produce, crafts, honey, baked goods, seasonal décor and other holiday items. Caroling, music and a bonfire will add additional charm to this fun annual event. For more information about the Baltimore Holiday Market, or the Baltimore Downtown Restoration Committee, a volunteer-driven nonprofit committed to supporting and enriching the community of Baltimore, contact info@baltimoredowntownrestoration.com.

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This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: County Connections: Pancake Festival continues to provide support for Kiwanis