Kiwanis Breakfast set for Saturday

For over six decades, the Kiwanis have served up their pancakes during breakfast and the festivities will continue May 10.

The Kiwanis will be serving pancakes, eggs, sausage and coffee at the Greencastle Moose Lodge, 212 W Franklin St., from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Those wishing to eat all you can pancakes can do so by paying $5 at the door. 

"The Greencastle Moose Lodge has been a very gracious host to us the last couple of years and continue to do so. We know a lot of people have attended over the years, meet up with friends and it has become a tradition for them and we hope that tradition continues this year. ," said Alan Zerkel, of the Kiwanis.

Paul Carpenter, of the Kiwanis, echoed those sentiments.

"It is our main fundraiser for the year. Kiwanis started in 1916 in Detroit and was people in industry getting together. Within a couple of years, they decided to go into children work, and that is our main focus. Riley Children's Hospital, Isaiah 117 House, the bicycle safety rodeo we do and Community Night Out are our focus," Carpenter told The Putnam County Post. 

Carpenter said in addition, Kiwanis provides scholarships for high school graduates and do not keep any of the money they raise for service. 

In addition to breakfast, there will also be representatives from the Greencastle Fire Department on hand, Sparky is slated to visit with children, entertainment will be provided, as well as face painting.

"It is always a fun morning. That smell when you walk in of pancakes, sausage and eggs, and Paul's coffee is wonderful," Zerkel said. 

Both said they thoroughly enjoy the breakfast, as well as the mission that comes with it. 

"The enjoyment of the breakfast is working with volunteers, getting things ready and being with the members of the club and old friends, as well as making new friends. The Kiwanis have been in Greencastle for over 100 years, and it is a great group of men and women to serve and support the community. The main mission is to support the children. We just enjoy working with our community," Zerkel said. 

For Carpenter, the opportunity to help Riley Children's Hospital is special to him, as his son is a Riley Kid. 

"I take it personally. When I first came to town in 2007, it was suggested to me that I join one of our service organizations. My son is a Riley kid and had some issues and a couple surgeries at Riley. We were totally impressed and I wanted to pass that on. With our latest donation, Riley, which is famous for its little red wagons they put children in, we now have a Kiwanis Club of Greencastle license plate on one of those wagons, and we are quite happy about that," Carpenter said.