By ROD ROWE
As many as 24,000 people are expected to be fed at the annual Salvation Army Pancake Day fundraiser on Friday, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Salvation Army citadel, 1013 N. Main St.
This fundraiser is the main annual fundraiser for the organization, which helps more than 800 families each Christmas season.
This is the 46th annual Pancake Day fundraiser, with more than 150 volunteers helping raise an expected $42,000 to $44,000, said John Huber, Salvation Army board vice president and project chairman.
“It’s the kickoff to Christmas,” he said.
Bell-ringing also starts this weekend.
With the United Way contribution reduced by 45 percent this year, the Salvation Army is counting on its pancake day and auction activity to fund the needs this season, Huber said.
“United Way used to provide 27 percent of our budget,” Huber said. “Now it is 7 percent.”
Before the event even begins, the project is ahead of last year. Corporate sponsorship is up 22 percent to $26,000 and table sponsors are up 33 percent to $5,550, Huber explained. He said this year’s event is expected to net between $42,000 and 44,000.
Huber said 1,700 people were fed two years ago, 2,051 last year and as many as 2,400 are expected this year at the pancake event.
This year volunteers will include members of the Exchange clubs, Optimists, Kiwanis clubs, Rotary, and new this year, Goshen Lions, Tri-Kappa and Psi Oates. A group from Greencroft will wrap silverware, too, Huber said.
Besides the outdoor red kettles, there will be counter kettles at banks, credit unions and retail businesses this season, Huber explained.
Anyone wanting to volunteer for pancake day or to help ring bells at kettles this season may call the Salvation Army at 533-9584, Huber said.
Major Jason Pollom of the Salvation Army said registration for Christmas assistance continues through next week. Last year the organization helped 800 families, he said.
He explained that 200 families may be “adopted” by local groups or sponsors, providing food and gifts for a local family.
“In about two and a half weeks we’ll cut that program off to give organizations time to get ready for Christmas,” Pollom said. “We work with Toys for Tots, too.”
Pollom said his concern now is the well-being of families as the breadwinner’s unemployment benefits may be coming to an end.
Pollom explained that the Salvation Army received a matching grant this year that enabled the organization to help with about $30,000 in rental aid this year and believes that will be an ongoing need this year.
