Frequent club volunteers, from left, Lion Charlie Vars, Lion Ollie Holt and Quinten Pray, along with Linda Lowney and Melissa Gentalen well may be included among the servers at the upcoming 52nd Annual Pancake Breakfast, an event featuring the family fun of contests, balloon twisting, a grand raffle and special guests, to be presented 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday, March 29, by the Amherst Lions Club at Wilkins Elementary School, 80 Boston Post Road in Amherst. Courtesy photo

AMHERST – Real maple syrup sliding past daubs of melting butter atop pancakes grilled to golden perfection is a promise to attendees patronizing the upcoming Amherst Lions Club 52nd Annual Pancake Breakfast scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon, March 29, at Wilkins Elementary School on Boston Post Road in Amherst.

“The Amherst Lions Club has been serving up its signature pancake breakfast for more than five decades,” said Shirley Flowers, club marketing volunteer.

The preparation, she said, includes gathering “secret ingredients” a week in advance of the legendary event. The cooks meet to organize, hobnob and generate more of the camaraderie shared by members of the Lions Club, an international organization founded in 1917 with the mission of fostering better communities.

Flowers commended all the volunteers who make the event an annual success. Lion Otis Garnett is the Lion who mans the industrial mixer that creates “the perfect batter.” Sausage, fruit toppings, juice, milk and fresh coffee, along with tea, hot cocoa and pastries make for a tasty menu.

Activities abound. A children’s coloring contest with prizes in three age groups is always well attended. Balloon creations by “Pammy the Balloon Twister” surely will add some vibrant color to the event.

Educational opportunities are ensured with the outdoor exhibit of superbly equipped Amherst Fire & Rescue ambulances, Amherst Police Department vehicles and other mobile units from the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

The local CERT group is part of a nationwide enterprise focused, as stated online, on the training of community volunteers who can be relied upon by professional responders for confident assistance during natural disasters or other crisis situations.

A well patronized highlight of the annual pancake breakfast is a Spring Raffle, this year featuring a prize basket stuffed with lottery scratch tickets valued at $100.

“Free eye screenings also will be offered to all ages, which is especially important for children under 5 years old, so any vision issues can be detected early,” Flowers added. “Our motto is ‘We Serve.'”

More information on the Amherst Lions Club 52nd Annual Pancake Breakfast is available online at https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/amherstnh.