Each offers its own brand of hometown good.
Each relies on a particular outreach and the families it serves.
Each operates almost exclusively on the collective strength of volunteers.
Each targets specific groups based on socioeconomics, age, gender, rehabilitation, hunger, education, opportunity, addictions, victims of crime and sometimes personal tragedy, among so very many others.
More times than not, these people-serving groups — most of whom are sanctioned 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations — must conduct fundraisers that support their operations within a community.
And occasionally, these events overlap. On any given weekend our populace is beginning to have more and more choice of events to attend and causes to support.
One such scheduling conflict — through no one’s fault — is coming Saturday, April 14.
Both are fundraising breakfasts. Each is sponsored by a splendid civic organization operating in partnership with a local eatery. And both have the most heartwarming of causes.
We refer to the annual Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast to be held at the Bald Headed Bistro in The Village Green from 7 to 11 a.m., and to the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Pancake Breakfast set for 7 to 10 a.m. at Applebee’s which is being held in honor of Dustin Ledford, a young Bradley County resident whose life was taken two years ago in a tragic two-vehicle accident on APD 40. The second motorist was later charged with driving under the influence, convicted for her crime and imprisoned.
Proceeds from the Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfast will support some of the civic group’s adopted causes and initiatives. A few include area 4-H clubs, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland, Head Start, Key Clubs at Cleveland and Walker Valley High schools, Builder’s Club at Cleveland Middle School and the all-important Kiwanis Foundation scholarships. The longtime civic group also supports UNICEFs Eliminate Project which provides vaccines for the prevention of maternal and neonatal tetanus throughout the world.
Proceeds from the Dustin Ledford memorial breakfast will support a splendid organization in its own right — Mothers Against Drunk Driving, a valued group whose membership is open to all but whose origin came at the hands of parents whose cause of commonality was the tragic loss of beloved sons and daughters in roadway accidents involving substance abuse.
Choice is always good; yet, these two fundraisers are supporting the most endearing of causes — children and the families who love them. In this case, making a selection is understandably difficult.
May we suggest a way of supporting both? Area residents wishing to enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast at one of the functions might consider calling the other, buying a pair of tickets and asking that they be donated to a family or individual in need.
It is just a thought, but it is one that could benefit two worthwhile organizations. Hardy appetites could even consider an early breakfast with MADD and late-morning pancakes with Kiwanians.
In both functions, tickets can be bought at the door or in advance.
The Kiwanis tickets are $6 and children under 5 will eat free. Hours are 7 to 11 a.m. at the Bald Headed Bistro. See a Kiwanis member for advance tickets.
The MADD tickets are $5 until Thursday, April 12, at 5 p.m. At the door on the day of the event, ticket price will be $6 at Applebee’s. For advance tickets, stop by Helping Hands of Cleveland at 60 25th St. N.W., Suite 3, or call Donna Payton at 476-3312, or email her at info@clevelandhelpinghands.com; or, call Kim Ledford at 715-3157 or Danny Ledford at 472-7901.
As we said, Cleveland is a growing community.
It is our hope we can support two delicious pancake breakfasts for a pair of endearing causes on the same morning.
