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 Every year for the past three decades, Spring-Ford Rotarians have spent a morning flipping flapjacks to feed hungry crowds from the community. But the goal of the annual pancake breakfast is more than just satisfying stomachs.
Through the years, the Rotary Club has given tens of thousands of dollars back to the community through the proceeds of the breakfasts.
At a recent luncheon meeting of the club, this year’s breakfast proceeds were distributed to representatives of 10 non-profit organizations which serve the Spring-Ford community.
“Today’s an opportunity to share with our community,” commented club president Pat Nugent as the meeting began.
Rotarian Tom Smith has been chairing the breakfast buffet for 13 years. He described the distribution luncheon as the “second best day of the year.” He explained the club would be handing out $7,150 at the luncheon. Since 1996, he added, the Rotary Club has given $73,300 back to the community through the pancake breakfasts.
Before handing out the checks, Smith noted that this year’s breakfast served over 800 people, and more than 100 volunteers worked at the breakfast. A record amount of food was served, he added.
Accepting the donation on behalf of the Spring City Revitalization Committee, Bill Hoffman spoke briefly about Spring City’s Streetscape project, funded by a county grant. Each phase of the project must be completed before the borough can apply for the next phase, he explained.
The first phase should be finished this spring, he said. The second phase will continue north on Main Street and round the turn onto Bridge Street at Turkey Hill, winding up in the vicinity of Burger King. The final phase will be from Burger King to the Schuylkill River bridge, Hoffman said.
“It really beautifies the downtown district,” he remarked.
Barry Shafer accepted the contribution to the Spring-Ford High School baseball team. A lot of baseball players helped at the breakfast, he noted. The Rotary donation will go into the Booster Club account with hopes of raising money for a four-day spring training trip to Florida.
The Community Association of Spring City, which manages the Spring City Pool, also received a donation. CASC president Sue Grumblatt noted that last year the pool used the funds for the renovation of the baby pool, which was completed by a Spring City Girl Scout for her Gold Star Award.
This year, she said, the association will use the funds for mandatory updates to the pool, as well as for new chairs if possible.
Spring Valley YMCA uses its Rotary donation for the Y’s scholarship fund. Ann Nelson noted the Y has given out $200,000 in financial assistance since September. The YMCA doesn’t want anyone to have to drop their membership due to financial difficulties, she explained, and will reduce rates to what the individual can afford. The scholarship fund then makes up the difference.
Spring-Ford Historical Society representative Bill Brunner thanked the Rotary Club for its “continued support of our organization.” He invited the members to the historical society’s upcoming programs and events.
Accepting the check for Project Outreach, director Meda Maron noted the service organization began its 25th year last summer. The agency provides food to an average of 170 families per week, she reported, and had recently supplied heating oil to the 90th family. In addition, Project Outreach assists area residents with housing, medical and transportation needs.
The Spring-Ford Youth Athletic League donation was accepted by Scott Smiley. The league’s primary fields are located behind Spring City Elementary School. The league enrolls about 620 boys and 225 girls in baseball and softball programs, as well as more than 1,500 boys and girls in the winter basketball sessions and about 300 to 400 in last fall’s football and cheerleading program.
“We’re just proud t serve the community,” Smiley remarked.
Dot Jones accepted the Rotary Club’s contribution to the Limerick Historical Society. The society is working on repairing the front porch and installing a wall next to the driveway of its Hunsberger House headquarters on Ridge Pike. The historians recently completed the four-year project of compiling an index to the Limerick history book.
Jones also noted the society received the donation of a pump organ from the Epps family.
Terry Robin, program directory of Open Door, Royersford, collected the social service ministry’s check. The organization’s main functions are to provide a food pantry and clothes closet, although it also offers a prescription program, senior exercise classes and an afterschool activity center for children in fourth through eighth grades.
Open Door also provides opportunities for young people to complete their required community service. This program helps the teens become better citizens, she said, and Open Door will give them job references when they are finished.
The Rotary Club also gave donations to the Royersford and Spring City public libraries.
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