Pancake Day raises money for youth activities

ASHEBORO — Young people benefit when people eat pancakes. Some even get new shoes.

When The Asheboro Kiwanis Club holds its 74th Annual Pancake Day on Tuesday, March 21, thousands of dollars will be raised for a number of youth activities.

The pancakes will be served by the Kiwanis members at the NC National Guard Armory at 1430 S. Fayetteville St., Asheboro. That was an annual ritual for decades, but this will be the first in-person dining event since the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

One difference the year: No breakfast. Instead, the plates of pancakes, sausage and beverages will be available from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for lunch and from 3:30-8 p.m. for supper. While diners can eat inside the armory, there will be drive-thru service for takeouts.

According to Eddie Burks, the Asheboro Kiwanis Club supports such youth groups as Boy/Girl Scouts, Boys/Girls Clubs, American Legion Baseball, youth athletics, Operation Red Sleigh, The Salvation Army, Randolph County Partnership for Children, Victory Junction, Key Club and many others. The club also supports a shoe program with Asheboro City Schools to buy shoes for school children.

Burks said the club often receives thank-you letters from youth who are affected by the Kiwanis programs. The letters are often funny, he said, but one created a “Kiwanis Moment” that helped him “know we’re doing the right thing.” A letter from a ninth grader said the shoes provided by the club were the first pair of new shoes of his life.

The Kiwanis Club was instrumental several years ago in bringing back the Miss Randolph County Pageant, including scholarship money for the contestants. The club also provides scholarships for high school seniors as they prepare for college. Those scholarships are based on both merit and need.

Regional Kiwanis clubs raised money to build the Talladega Cabin at Victory Junction, which offers summer camp for children with chronic diseases. Burks said the camp experience may be the only chance to have a fun week for many of the kids.

This year, Pancake Day will not draw tickets for door prizes. Instead, many diners will find a prize with their meal. Those prizes are given away by local businesses who support the benefit.

Tickets to Pancake Day are available from any Asheboro Kiwanis Club member and also at the door. Tickets for all you can eat are just $7. For more details, call Burks at 336-963-2217 or chairperson Mark Vuncannon at 336-465-9669.