ASHLAND— The Ashland Fire Department’s garage — normally used to store firetrucks and send them out sirens blazing — was converted into a pancake-producing, breakfast-serving hub of community activity on Saturday morning.
A total of 1,061 people visited the garage for the 50th annual pancake breakfast, and they came ready to donate. In just six hours, the fire department raised $10,815.42, which will go to local charities.
To celebrate half a century of flapjacks, the fire department sold commemorative mugs, ran a raffle and collected donations.
Tractor Supply Company, Farm and Home Hardware, Home Depot, Buckeye Express Car Wash, Miller-Hawkins Market, Aerohio Skydiving and Ashley’s Candy and Nut Shoppe donated the raffle goodies.
The community “loves” the event, which has been going on long enough to span generations, Capt. Tyler Smith said.
“It’s neat to see people young and old here,” he said.
To match the surge of community members, almost 100 percent of fire department employees showed up to work the event and dish out “a lot” of pancakes, Smith added.
The department also served up sausage and poured coffee, milk and juice.
