WESTFIELD-Businesses and residents are being asked to “buy breakfast for a few kids” for the Westfield 350th Community Pancake Breakfast, planned on the morning of May 18, as part of the final celebrations marking the city’s historical anniversary.
“It’s going to be a great family friendly event to kick off the 350 weekend,” said David Flaherty, who is co-chairing the breakfast with Joe Mitchell. “We are working with several people who may act as celebrity chefs.”
The breakfast is planned from 7:30 to 11 a.m. at the Westfield Middle School. Tickets the day of the event will be $3 for elementary and intermediate middle school age students, and $6 for middle school and high school students as well as adults. Discount advance ticket vouchers will be $2 and $4.
“We want to help make sure every kid in town has the ability to participate in this fun, memorable 350 event,” said Flaherty. “We are asking people to sponsor classes of 25 students for $50 (for elementary and intermediate classes), and $100 for middle school and high school classes.”
Flaherty said that while many businesses and individuals are “comfortable” with this tax-deductible donation level, the committee will “happily accept” donations of any size to help ensure that vouchers are available for all students in Westfield.
All vouchers will be distributed through the schools, said Flaherty, noting that the vouchers would include public, parochial, private and home school students.
Flaherty noted that it takes an army to put on a breakfast of this magnitude and is being assisted by the volunteer adult and youth leaders from Boy Scout Troop 109 from St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Boy Scout Troop 821 from Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament Church. Also, youth leaders from the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield are also stepping up to help with logistics, as well as the school system and staff at the middle school facility.
Businesses also lending their support include Tiger Press with printing services, Phil Aucella of Aucella & Associates with design services and food acquisition, Jerome’s for rental equipment, and the 350 Special Events Team with budgeting, promotion, and special activities.
“We are planning for family friendly activities during the breakfast such as music, face painting, balloons, historic yard games, coloring sheets, a dunk tank, and historic picture frames for creating memorable family pictures,” said Flaherty, adding the committee expects a crowd of approximately 4,000 residents.
The main attraction, a stack of freshly made buttermilk pancakes with butter and syrup, can also be enhanced at a “goop station,” for a small up-charge, that will include whipped cream, berries, chocolate and other “sweet surprises.”
“Dunkin’ Donuts will be providing coffee service and we are planning for sausage but it depends on what sponsors will be able to provide,” said Flaherty, adding he is still working on commitments for the pancake mix, syrup, butter, paper and plastic products.
For more information on the breakfast or to make a donation payment, visit www.Westfield350.com/pancake-breakfast. For persons who prefer to mail in a donation, send a check made payable to the “Westfield 350 Pancake Breakfast” and mail to Westfield 350, P.O. Box 1715, Westfield, MA 01086.
