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The aroma of maple syrup, sausage and coffee returned to First Baptist Church on the Square for the annual Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfast.

The all-you-can-eat fundraiser breakfast has been held for 26 years to support local youth. Club President Jerome Alford said there was some debate over whether to call it their 26th annual breakfast because it was interrupted a bit by the pandemic.

The pancake breakfast is held each year as a fundraiser to help provide scholarships to local high school seniors through the Gordon Scholarship Program. The students who receive the scholarships are typically Key Club members at their schools, which the Kiwanis Club actively supports.

The scholarship program is named in honor of the late Dr. Robert E. Gordon, who became an active member of the LaGrange Kiwanis Club in the 1980s. Prior to his death, Gordon proposed that the Kiwanis fund an annual scholarship for local high school seniors. The program was approved after his passing with his family’s support.

The Kiwanis don’t just support high schoolers though. Along with the scholarships, the Kiwanis have supported local Boy Scout programs, the Boys & Girls Club and the Terrific Kids program, which rewards elementary school students for meeting goals.

Alford said they likely won’t know how much the pancake breakfast netted until all of the numbers are run by their treasurer, but last year they were able to provide $8,000 in scholarships thanks to the event.

The club hasn’t fully decided the programs it is going to support this year, but it is looking for more children’s programs, Alford said.

The batter for the pancakes was donated by IHOP, Alford said. Piggly Wiggly and Kimble’s Foods also supported the event by providing juice and sausage.