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By TYLER RALEY | Staff Writer

CHELSEA – Waking up early and traveling to the Chelsea Community Center, residents of Chelsea came together to enjoy a nice stack of pancakes and support a greater cause at the Kiwanis Club of Chelsea’s Pancake Day.

The breakfast, hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Chelsea, was held on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 8 a.m. and lasted until noon, offering guests plenty of time to dig in and enjoy pancakes, sausage, coffee or juice for just $5.

“Kiwanis traditionally does pancake breakfasts in many many clubs around the country,” said Robbie Hayes, president of the Kiwanis Club of Chelsea. “A lot of clubs around the state I know that do pancake breakfasts, we all do them a little different, but I’m very very happy that it’s as successful as it is, that we’re able to do the things we do, that we’re able to bring so many people together that don’t always get to be together.”  

The members of the Kiwanis Club that helped to run the event were being assisted by the students in the Chelsea High School Key Club. The club itself is composed of over 150 students who help out and volunteer at all of the events that the Kiwanis Club needs them to. 

The students were tasked with plating the breakfasts and serving them to those who attended, while some students also helped make the pancakes.

“That is invaluable,” Hayes said. “We could not do it without the Key Club, there’s no way around it. If they weren’t here, we could never keep up with serving the pancakes and cleaning the tables and preparing the coffee and just cooking.”

The Kiwanis Club of Chelsea helps to put on numerous fundraisers each year that go towards positively impacting the lives of children. As a whole, the national organization’s slogan is “Serving the children of the world,” which is what Hayes strives to do every time they put on an event.

Hayes emphasized how proud he is that these events bring the community together, acknowledging that it allows old friends to reconnect and new bonds to be formed, all while supporting a great cause.

“It reminds us that even though we’ve grown so much as a community, that we still have that small-town atmosphere in Chelsea,” Hayes said. “We’re a community here, and it grows all the time. I’ve talked to several people who have met people they didn’t really know before, now they’re dear friends almost. We have that small-town atmosphere and this helps to keep that going.” 

Those interested in joining the Kiwanis Club of Chelsea can do so by becoming a member. Membership dues are $160 per year, and the club meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 11:45 a.m. at the Chelsea Community Center.

The Kiwanis Club of Chelsea’s next fundraising event will be on Saturday, April 26, which will be a revamped version of Fire at the Foothills, offering live entertainment, food trucks and vendors for all those who attend.