Kiwanis members, from left to right, Bill Christiansen, Mike Miler, and Gary Montooth fill one of two circular griddles with pancakes. [Photo by Dave Clarke]

What would you do if eleven-to-twelve-hundred hungry people dropped in for breakfast?

The Kiwanis Club of Kewanee accepted the challenge once again Saturday celebrating the fundraiser’s Diamond Jubilee with the theme “Nothing butter than 75 years of flipping pancakes.”

Tables in the basement of the First United Methodist Church were filled to capacity from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and carryout and drive-thru business was brisk throughout for Kiwanis Pancake Day.

Kiwanis Pancake Day co-chairs Willie Burford, left, and Everett Whitcher share a handshake as the 75th edition of the annual event was well underway Saturday morning. [Photo baby Dave Clarke]

Willie Burford, who co-chaired the event with Everett Whitcher, said set up begins on Thursday with food preparation getting underway around 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning.

“We serve around 14,000 pancakes and 8,000 sausage links before it’s over.” Burford said.

Wethersfield High School Key Club members Abigail Cabada, left, and Emilia Escareno fill cups of coffee to go with the pancakes and sausage. [Photo by Dave Clarke]
Kewanee High School Key Club member Kelsey Scott serves a second helping of pancakes to one of the hungry attendees. [Photo by Dave Clarke]

Last year the event raised around $13,000 dollars which helps Kiwanis support 18 local organizations, programs and funds including the Kewanee Food Pantry, Freedom House, among others. The club emphasizes support of youth programs including the Kewanee Park District’s Youth Baseball and Soccer programs, the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign, ABCD and Sunshine tutoring and Patchy’s Toy Drive. Additionally, the club provides $10,000 in scholarships from its foundation.

Kiwanis president Renee Crabtree presents a 75th anniversary Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast blanket to Ellie Cruse, 9, a member of the Central K-KIds Club, for being the 225th person to be served at the event. [Photo by Dave Clarke]

The youth connection is best demonstrated by sponsorship of clubs in local schools including Key Club chapters in Kewanee and Wethersfield high schools, Kiwanis Builders Clubs in Central, Visitation, Wethersfield and Neponset junior highs, K-Kids. Clubs in Central and Wethersfield elementary schools; and Circle K at Black Hawk East.

“Regul the Magician” demonstrates his rope trick with the help of a local family as they enjoy their breakfast. [Photo by Dave Clarke]

They also sponsor a Kiwanis Action Club at Abilities Plus.
In honor of the 75th anniversary, door prizes of Kiwanis T-shirts and blankets were awarded to the 75th, 150th, 225th and 300th breakfasters who came through the line and a magician strolled from table to table entertaining the diners. Members of the school clubs also received incentives for advance ticket sales tied to the anniversary.

Key Club, Builders Club and Circle K members helped serve the breakfast as well as members of Boy Scout Troop 4106 from the First Baptist Church.