If you like your pancakes topped with butter, syrup and community spirit, the Bridgeport Lions Club has an event planned for you.

On Sat., Dec. 3 – the same morning as the Jingle Bell Jog and Bridgeport Christmas Parade – the Lions will host a pancake feed at the Benedum Civic Center. The event runs 8 a.m. through noon.

“We haven’t done this for a few years – since before COVD – so it’s big for us to get back to doing this for the community,” said Lion John Vash.

Cost is $8 for adults and kids over age 12, $5 for kids ages 6-12 and free for those age 5 and under.

“It’s all-you-can-eat pancakes and sausage with drinks provided,” Vash said. “Tickets are available through any Lions Club member, or you can pay at the door.”

The last pancake feed was held in 2019. Prior to that, it was held annually for several decades.

“This event is important to our club. It’s one of our fundraisers and enables us to raise money to help with projects going on locally,” Vash said. “It’s our last fundraiser of the year, so it’s our last hurrah, so to speak.”

In 2022, the Lions Club donated substantial funds to the Medbrook Children’s Charity Inclusive Playground.

“So, we really had to find some new ways to generate some revenue because we have other projects going on, too, including restoration projects going on in a couple areas – Lions Point and Lions Circle,” Vash said.

The Bridgeport Lions Club will also have a float in the Bridgeport Christmas Parade, which starts at 10 a.m. Sat., Dec. 3. Providing help with both the parade and the pancake feed will be the Bridgeport High School Key Club.

Vash said combining the Jingle Bell Jog, Pancake Feed and Christmas Parade makes for a special morning in the community.

“The pancake feed will be open before, during and after the parade. People can come into the Civic Center and warm up if it’s cold outside, get a meal and Santa will be upstairs after the parade, so it’s kind of a whole family thing going on,” Vash said.

He said Bridgeport Lions Club is a great organization to be part of.

“The club is really integrated into the community, and we recently lost Robert Allen, who was a cornerstone member of the club. I’m sure we will be doing something to honor him at some point,” Vash said.

Editor’s Note: Photos of 2019 Lions Club Pancake Feed are by Joe Signorelli of Ben Queen Photography.