|
At Lincoln Daily News, it is often
observed that the beginning of local event coverage for the year
begins with the annual Zion Lutheran School Pancake and Sausage
Breakfast on the first Saturday of February. This year, was no
exception, as it appeared that early on the morning of February 7th,
the community came out of winter hibernation and packed the
gymnasium at the school for a hardy breakfast and the opportunity to
support the local school by buying bulk meats, picking up items at
the bake sale tables, and bidding on the many silent auction items
on tables skirting the gym.
After 50 years, Zion Lutheran has their breakfast down to a science.
When guests arrive they have the option of dining in, or carrying
out, and followed directions of the signs and volunteer greeters to
get where they need to be efficiently.
For those dining in, there is a
pathway that winds through some of the halls of the school. With it
being the 50th year for the event, along the trail there were tables
set up with photos and displays reflecting the history of the
breakfast.
Once inside the gymnasium, the food
line volunteers loaded plates with warm, freshly made pancakes and
Zion’s special sausage, cooked to perfection.
With dozens of tables and hundreds of chairs, guests were then able
to find a comfortable spot to enjoy their meal. In many cases, these
guests were large families where multiple generations sat down
together to enjoy a meal. In other cases, groups gathered because
they were friends or neighbors who enjoy reconnecting and sharing
stories of what they have been up to since the last time they met.
As guests enjoyed their meals, volunteers kept a watchful eye on
everyone. When folks were ready to head out, those volunteers were
there to clear the table and lay out new placemats. There were
volunteers roaming the aisles ready to heap on seconds of pancakes
and sausage or refill coffee cups.
[to top of second column] |
At the silent auction tables,
there was a huge variety of offerings, all donated by local
businesses and individuals as well as “class baskets” put
together by the children in a specific grade level at Zion.
Items offered at the auction
included baked goods, gift baskets filled with foods, games, arts &
crafts supplies, books, handmade home décor, and even furniture.
The bake sale tables were busy, as
guests had the opportunity to choose from a variety of cookies,
cupcakes, sweet rolls and much more.
In the hallway exiting the
gymnasium tables were set up with gift cards that had also been
donated and were offered up for bidding in the silent auction.
The meat room is also a popular
place, as guests stopped on their way out to pick up their meat
orders they had submitted prior to the day of the event.
The annual breakfast is a fundraiser for the school that helps the
continuing education of its students. Because Zion is a parochial
school, it does not reap all the benefits of funding through state
programs, relying on tuition and fundraisers such as the annual
breakfast to continue providing its student body with the best
possible education.
[Nila Smith]
 |
