Kiwanis celebrating 85th annual pancake day

Flipping pancakes has been a tradition of Poplar Bluff Kiwanis Club for 85 years. This year’s event will be from 6 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 4, at the Poplar Bluff Junior High School.

The first Pancake Day in November 1938, “was all about giving back to and helping children,” said club member Kathy Brittingham. “In 2023, that hasn’t changed. This year we are preparing to install the second phase of the ADA playground equipment at Kiwanis Bacon Park. “

Through Newspapers.com, Brittingham was able to track down November 1938 articles on the first pancake day. She also found several articles on the second pancake day in 1939. Those articles included the actual pancake recipe plus listed items community members donated for prizes to be given away throughout the day.

At that time, they made a full day affair out of Pancake Day, serving 7:30 a.m. through 11 p.m.

“I bet they were exhausted by the end of that day,” Brittingham said. “A 25-cent Pancake Day ticket could get a person three pancakes, a cup of coffee and a toothpick. “

This year, tickets are $6 each and may be purchased in advance from any Kiwanis Club member or at the event.

Brittingham said, it was interesting reading through the items donations. People donated items such as a keg of nails, a shirt, a dress, a mirror, a hot water heater, Coca-Cola andclocks, plus all the items it took to make the pancake mix such as flour, eggs and milk.

They played bingo and had entertainment throughout the day.

Club member Miranda Fickert said the group decided this year to have a pancake eating contest “to help get the word out about Pancake Day and to bring a fun element that a broader population might like to get involved.”

There will be an age 10 and under pancake eating contest and an 11 and over event. The participants pay $10. The goal is to see who can eat six delicious pancakes the fastest.

“We’re hoping groups — sheriff’s department vs. city police, Fire House 1 vs. 2 vs. 3 — and also school sports and other clubs will enter and have a little friendly competition among themselves,” Fickert said. “They can enter day of, or they can fill out the pre-registration and drop the form at Commerce Bank or Whitworth’s Gift Chest Jewelers.”

Businesses and people in the community may sponsor or donate money to help cover costs of supplies.

“Our sponsor levels are $150, and that comes with 10 tickets, or $250 which comes with 20,” Fickert said. “They get a business card-size ad (for $150) on our placemat that goes at each place setting or a double-size ad for the larger sponsors. They can also come out and eat or sponsor someone in the pancake eating contest, which is only $10.”

Carry out is also available for anyone on their way to work or employers who would like to treat their employees.

Fickert praised Pancake Chair Matt Sparks saying, “He does a ton of prep work leading up to the event, but the day of, it takes a 12-15 people to keep the prep running, pancakes cooking, tables cleaned up, et cetera.”

Early projects include cookers being set up and tested, supplies gathered, ads secured and tickets sold, just to name a few.

Event day, Fickert said, “I’d say there are a couple dozen who work shifts prepping to-go boxes, making coffee, whipping up batter and of course cooking the pancakes, serving, visiting, etc.”

Club members use 250 pounds of pancake batter, 1,500 sausage links and 10 gallons of syrup.

Brittingham and Fickert both shared information about ADA playground equipment at Kiwanis Bacon Park.

Brittingham said, “This year we are preparing to install the second phase of the playground equipment. This is an exciting addition to the Phase 1 equipment that was installed in 2017. We are adding a pirate ship, swings and other pieces where a person with disabilities can build camaraderie and friendships by playing with their friends, not just watching them from the sidelines. “

Fickert said, “Unfortunately we were not awarded the scrap tire grant that we applied for (the playground has to be on a hard rubber surface to be fully handicap accessible). That paired with the rising costs of supplies has left us about $30,000 short from our goal of installation this spring. We’re pushing to make up those funds with this and the Trail Run but we’d love for individuals or businesses who might be interested in underwriting a piece of equipment to contact us too.”

Fickert continued, “The grant would have helped in the cost of the rubber surfacing around the playground equipment. There is also a concrete base that will have to be installed first that the rubber surfacing will cover.

“We are currently trying to procure more donations and funding so we can do a spring installation,” Fickert said. “We thank and appreciate everyone that has already donated or helped in some way on this project. If anyone would like to help with a sponsorships and donations, please reach out to a Poplar Bluff Kiwanis club member. We look forward to seeing our friends and community members on March 4 at our 85th Pancake Day.”