Published: November 20, 2009 10:53 pm      

Pancake volunteers, donations roll in throughout day

The crowd and donations were both increased this year at the Salvation Army Pancake Day at the Goshen headquarters.

“Attendance is up this year,” said Major John Pollom of the Goshen Salvation Army.

Before 5 p.m., Pollom said, the number of people served was up about 100 over last year.

He pointed out that last year between 5 and 6 p.m. 290 people were served.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we exceed that this year,” Pollom said.

The event took place with the help of a lot of good people, he said, as there were more people serving than ever. The event ran from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m.

He pointed out that some people even ate twice Friday, morning and evening.

Allen Beachy, assistant scout master for Middlebury Boy Scouts Troop 7, came to eat in the morning and asked if he could help. He returned in the afternoon and was assigned the task to return tables in his truck to First Prebyterian Church. He said more scouts may be involved next year.

Pollom said the Exchange Club of Elkhart County is in charge of cooking the pancakes while members of Goshen veterans groups cut up and cook the sausage. A crew of veterans was at the Salvation Army Thursday night starting the sausage project and cooked all day Friday at the Presbyterian Church and brought the meat to the Salvation Army.

“The veterans groups are a vital part of the effort,” Pollom said. “They have been doing that for years.”

John Funk, a member of the Maple City Kiwanis Club, said his late wife Rose was a long-time Salvation Army board member and started a tradition of bringing vegetable soup to feed the kitchen workers. This year Funk said he brought four big pots of soup and two cakes for the workers.

Another long-time Salvation Army board member, Wilbur Hostetler, worked taking tickets both in the morning and the evening. A board member since 1962, he said he remembers when the event first started and was held during a diner on West Jefferson Street.

David Boothby, a Goshen Noon Kiwanis member, said he has been serving food “for lots of years.” He remembers when his club helped cook when the event was held for many years at the Brethren Church on West Clinton.

Jeanne Scott, who enjoyed dinner at the event with her husband, Lanny, said they have attended for many years.

“We look forward to it,” she said.

“This community is absolutely amazing,” said John Huber, pancake day chairman. “Every time we turn around and ask for something, they are there.”

He explained that for the first time, some portable lights were placed in the Salvation Army parking lot to assist drivers in the dark.

Huber also mentioned that the veterans groups volunteered Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m. and then came back to cook at the church all day Friday.

Huber mentioned that people were also giving donations to the Salvation Army Friday.

“The outpouring from the community,” Huber said, “is phenomenal.”