Pancakes, sausage, and community spirit: Kiwanis Pancakes Day raises funds for local youth

Fantastic is the way Jim Sanchcz describes the annual Kiwanis Pancakes Day, which was held Saturday.

While Sanchcz, who is the event chairman, doesn’t know the exact number of pancakes served or the amount of money raised, he was quick to say 2,100 sausage links were consumed.

“We had a great turn out and raised a lot of money,” Sanchez said. “We raised more money than in previous years, but we don’t have an exact number since we are waiting for money from some of the sponsors. We try to make it better every year.”

He credits the “good weather for contributing to the great turn out from the community.”

Volunteers at the event at the Poplar Bluff Junior High School were 20 Kiwanis members and members of the Boys and Girls Club of the Heartland.

“A big thank you goes to the Boys and Girls Club for pitching in like they did.” Sanchez said.

Praising all the sponsors, Sanchez said, “They make it better. A special thanks goes to Indian Creek Meats for helping us with the meat.”

The Kiwanis Club has been serving the needs of youth since 1929 and serving pancakes for more than 80 years.

The funds raised by the event “help with what we can do at Bacon Park,” he said. “This is a major fundraiser to help us reach our goals. All the proceeds will benefit Kiwanis Bacon Park. We own and pay the maintenance on the park. We are working on new backboards for the basketball goals at the park. We do good things for the youth of Poplar Bluff.”

Kiwanis also sponsors the Wolf Creek Trail Run in April and the golf tournament in the fall.

The Kiwanis Club and the U.S. Forest Service will host the 12th Annual Wolf Creek Trail Run April 19 to help raise money for the park.

The run will include a 6K run, 1.7 mile Walk The Forest. The event will be held rain or shine.

Wolf Creek Trail is located .60 of a mile north of the Missouri Highway Patrol Troop E Station. The cost varies from $35 (6K) run to $40 (1.7 mile walk). Add $5 to each for registration the day of the race at the trailhead. Age groups: Men and women 18 years old and under, 19-35, 36-50,51 plus.

Cost includes T shirt and medals for top two runners in each age division for 6K (male & female), top male & female half runners and each finisher in half marathon. All runners/walkers will get a T shirt, however to be guaranteed a T shirt on race day, participants must register by April 14.

Kiwanis Park is located between the 1300 block of West Pershing and Harper streets behind the Poplar Bluff Middle School.

While the park has many features, one of newest is the all-inclusive playground which has several pieces of equipment. The first phase of the all-inclusive playground was installed in August, 2017.

Other features include a walking trail, basketball court, softball field, and a Frisbee golf course. A large field area is used for practices such as football and soccer.

There are four large and four small individual pavilions for use.