Pancake breakfast tops off final day of Cranberry Summer Nights
CRANBERRY TWP — The aroma of pancakes filled Cranberry Township Community Park Saturday morning, July 11, as the Cranberry Township Area Lions Club kicked off the last day of Cranberry Summer Nights with its annual pancake and sausage breakfast.
The breakfast, which is the Cranberry Township Area Lions Club’s biggest fundraiser, took place alongside the Cranberry Chase 5K race. Admission to the breakfast was included with race registration, which led many runners to replenish at the breakfast.
Other people came to the breakfast to spend time with their neighbors or, in Mam Nguyen’s case, just for the delicious pancakes.
The pancakes on the menu were not your average flapjacks. A variety of pancake types, including buckwheat and coffee and molasses, were available, alongside other breakfast items, such as sausages, coffee and juice.
In addition to the breakfast, the Lions also offered a 50/50 raffle and a basket raffle with 12 prizes from businesses around the township.
Cranberry Township Area Lions Club president Pete Dornsife said the pancake breakfast is special because it brings the community together for a good cause.
“People come out to see each other, to enjoy fellowship, to enjoy a great breakfast, but also to give back,” Dornsife said.
The proceeds from the breakfast go toward the Lions’ various community service initiatives.
While some funds go toward cleaning up Garvin Road and serving homeless people, the Lions use much of the money raised to help those who are blind or have other vision issues.
The Lions displayed some of what they have done to tackle blindness and vision loss at the breakfast. Their efforts include vision screenings, donations and visits to the Blind Association of Butler and Armstrong.
The Cranberry Township Lions’ mission to help those with vision issues does not just stop where Butler County ends. The Lions also use some of the funds they raise to help provide glasses to people in other countries.
According to a poster at the event, the Cranberry Township Lions have collected over 60,000 pairs of glasses for those in need.
In addition to raising funds, the event also brings every Cranberry Township Lions Club member together for one cause.
Elmer Ebeck, who has worked the pancake breakfast for more than 30 years, said the pancake breakfast’s unifying power is truly special.
“We can get all 48 members involved,” Ebeck said.
In addition to all of the Lions, members of the Cranberry Township Sunrise Rotary club also volunteered at the breakfast.
Although the breakfast is the Cranberry Township Lions’ biggest fundraiser, it is not their only way of bringing the community together.
The club will host a summer cookout at the Cranberry Township Community Park on Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 6:30 p.m. At the cookout, residents can meet their neighbors and learn more about what the Lions Club does for the community.
