NSU’s Alumni Pavilion and Tailgate area was the place for a great breakfast and family fun Saturday, September 5 as the 34 member strong Natchitoches Kiwanis Club held its annual Pancake Festival, Mile Run and 5-K Race. Kiwanis has been a feature on the Natchitoches civic scene since 1946. The race is a relatively recent addition to the long-standing annual pancake breakfast. The Kiwanians served up several hundred pancake and sausage breakfasts to a hungry crowd of over 100 runners, as well as family members and supporters. The Natchitoches Fire Department was on hand in case of medical need, and the Natchitoches SWAT truck also made an outreach appearance. FAUNA was also on hand to promote animal welfare and adoption.
This year’s race contained a colorful twist from prior years that added to the fun. Volunteers throughout the course set off bursts of color for the runners to pass through.
The event was a fun way to raise money for a very worthy cause. The members of the Natchitoches Kiwanis Club are part of an international organization of civic-minded people in Clubs all over the world. The Natchitoches Kiwanis sponsors the well-known “Terrific Kids” program recognizing outstanding students in the parish as well as K-Kids, Builders and Key Clubs in area schools. They also sponsor coat and school supply drives for area schoolchildren.
The Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast and 5k Run is the main fundraiser held each year to support these worthy efforts. Every dollar raised at the event will stay local and be used to help our children.
