DANVILLE — The Kiwanis Pancake and Sausage breakfast fundraiser returns for the 76th year on Thursday.
The breakfast extravaganza will take place all day and into the night on Thursday at the David S. Palmer Arena, 100 W. Main Street in Danville.
Tickets at the door are $8, or $30 for a 4-pack bundle. A single ticket covers adult meals, or two plates for children under the age of 12.
“We use the profits to finance children’s needs all around Vermilion County,” said Wesley Bieritz, a volunteer for 60 years. “So our goal is to help children wherever they are and whatever they’re doing.”
Bieritz says the organization is the key to the future of some of the children they serve.
“We do give away scholarships as well, to DACC and to other colleges,” Bieritz said. “So we are proud of that because that’s the way people can maintain their education. Because as you know, education is the secret to a good life.”
Bieritz said this is the 76th year the breakfast is returning to the community, calling it “Danville’s Picnic.”
“We’re the only one that does it, and we are very proud of the fact that we are still doing it after these many years,” he added. “A lot of people come and see each other from year to year. So it’s an event.”
The all-day event brings out everyone, he says. “It’s breakfast, dinner, and lunch as well. Yes, we’ve had some people who do all three.”
And Bieritz says they still receive donations for the pancake mix and fixings from Quaker Oats even though they no longer have an open plant in Danville.
“Even though they moved away a couple of years ago, they still provide us with the mix and the syrup,” he said. “We are very, very thankful for that.”
Bieritz says they are in need of volunteers, and if you would like to join, just stop by during one of their meetings at the Danville Public Library held every second and fourth Thursday of the month.
“Our club is about 28 or 30 in number,” Bieritz said. “We have to have some volunteers that help us outside of our club as well to make the thing work because it’s a rather large undertaking.”