In its first fundraising effort since the pandemic began, the Powassan Lion’s Club is seeing promising early results from a different-looking tradition.
The Lion’s Club is running its annual pancake breakfast in a COVID-friendly way, providing families with meal kits for purchase.
Normally, the Lion’s Club would host pancake breakfasts every Sunday in the five weeks leading up to Powassan’s Maple Syrup Festival.
“We had a lot of people who came almost every Sunday and would look forward to it,” said Sue Oshell, secretary of the Lion’s Club.
Last year, only one breakfast was held before the pandemic was declared, cancelling all in-person events.
A year later, the Lion’s Club is attempting to revive the tradition as its first fundraising effort since the pandemic began.
The pre-packaged meal kits include a box of pancake mix, two packs of sausages, maple syrup and a jug of orange juice are available for purchase, which will then be picked up on March 28.
“If I sell 100 kits, I’ll be happy,” said Donna Arkwright, membership chair of the Lion’s Club.
The idea of a “do it yourself” pancake breakfast was brought to Arkwright from a member whose relative in southern Ontario had success with the pre-packaged boxes.
After making some calls to sugar shacks and grocery stores, Arkwright and the Lion’s Club were able to assemble the boxes.
“Everyone was on board and everyone gave us a good price,” she said. “Now we’re getting a little worried as to how we’re going to get these all together.”
So far, over 80 boxes have been sold with two weeks still to go. Arkwright says the pancake breakfast could be a sign of more to come from the Lion’s Club.
“This is our first attempt to try and raise money and if it works, then we’ll try doing other stuff,” she said.
Those wishing to purchase a pancake breakfast kit can do so by emailing Sue Oshell [email protected] or by calling Donna Arkwright at (705) 724-5356.
