The Portage Exchange Club, the Portage High School MCJROTC cadets and Applebee’s Restaurant teamed up for another successful fundraiser.
Two of the Exchange Club’s missions are to help children in need and to help prevent child abuse. In order to carry out these goals, the club hosts several fundraisers throughout the year. For the past ten years one of these activities has been a pancake breakfast at Portage’s Applebee’s Restaurant.
Part of Applebee’s corporate philosophy says, “At Applebee’s being part of the neighborhood is what we’re all about.” Their Flapjack Fundraisers program offers their facility and cooks during hours when they are normally closed for business. They provide pancakes a choice of bacon or sausage and a choice of coffee, tea, milk or juice.
The PHS MCJROTC logs numerous hours in community service. This year the cadets sold 502 tickets for the breakfast. They also worked the day of the event, welcoming the attendees, serving the drinks and breakfasts and bussing tables.
Exchange Club members were in charge of publicity and set up. They welcomed and seated guests, assisted in the kitchen and helped see that the event ran smoothly. They expressed gratitude for the help they received from the other two organizations.
“The ROTC students do such a great job and do so much work,” Exchangite Chuck Coppess said. “I always say, ‘God bless the Portage ROTC!’”
Exchangite Mike Lemond added, “It is always a pleasure to work with people like those of Applebee’s who are so dedicated to the community and help nonprofit organizations achieve their goals.”
The fundraiser netted $2580, most of which will go to the Exchange Club’s Needy Kids Christmas Shopping Fund.