Kiwanis pancake day is Saturday

By BARBARA ANN HORTON

Staff Writer

The Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast will be held from 6 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Poplar Bluff Junior High School cafeteria. The event will be the local club’s 82nd annual fundraiser to benefit the youth of the community.

The cost is $5 for each person, said Jim Sanchez, pancake day chairman. Tickets may be purchased at the door or by calling 573-609-8830. Sponsorships and business delivery are available.

The club’s purpose, Sanchez said, is “to serve our community and the youth of our community, by creating opportunities for children to be curious, safe and healthy regardless of the community in which they live. We strive to give children the chance to learn, experience, dream, grow, succeed and thrive.”

The local club’s current project revolves around installation of inclusive play equipment at Bacon Park, including a special surfacing for children of all ages and abilities.

Sanchez said, “In addition to our ADA-accessible playground equipment project, Poplar Bluff Kiwanis, Inc., along with supporters, maintains Kiwanis Bacon Park, which is open to the public year-round. The majority of our annual spending goes toward Bacon Park, in ways the public may not notice right away, such as replacing supports to pavilions, new roofs, new bridges, refill gravel in the parking area (and) repair of existing equipment, benches and signage, in addition to maintaining, repairing and cleaning this park for the children of our community.”

Kiwanis also supports local police and fire departments by raising funds to buy blankets and stuffed animals to give to children who have recently experienced a traumatic event, Sanchez said.

“We donate needed children’s books to the public library on behalf of any speakers who present to our organization,” he said. “Annually, we sponsor and gather pajamas to give to children in need. This year we added a request for new luggage and backpacks to donate to children in foster care so that they don’t have to use trash bags. We received over 1,000 items from the community.”

The local club also donates to the United Gospel Rescue Mission, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Poplar Bluff Boys and Girls Club, Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership scholarship, Boy Scouts, I’m a Citizen Too, Project Graduation, The Eliminate Project and Key Club.

Sanchez added, “We regularly partner with the Boys and Girls Club relating to projects at Bacon Park, as they are close by and use it often.”

“Our community does not have any ADA compliant play equipment, except what is located in Kiwanis Bacon Park,” he said. “While it’s a start, we want to complete the full project, allowing kids of all ages and abilities to play together safely.

“Our park is a safe place for kids to play and be outside.

“In addition to traditional play equipment, it has a Frisbee course, walking trail, basketball court, football field, softball field, pavilions and grills. The community can reserve space to have birthday parties or events with no cost other than a refundable deposit for the bathroom key. This park is a vital part of the community and Kiwanis continually supports, maintains and improves the park.”