CVFD to host pancake breakfast for MDA

By Danica Baker

CAMANCHE — The Camanche Volunteer Fire Department will host its 29th Annual Pancake Breakfast for the MDA beginning at 6 a.m. Sunday.

The fire department has been raising money for MDA since 1957. According to a history of the CVFD by Larry Cramer titled “The First Fifty Years,” the fundraising effort consisted of going door to door to every house in the city in the early years, a tradition that continues today. In 1979, the fire department MDA Committee was discussing ideas to raise more money and Firefighter Jerry Wiebers suggested the department sponsor a pancake breakfast to be held in conjunction with the annual Camanche Days celebration.

The first breakfast was a great success, with firefighters serving over 1,000 people and raising more than $2,000. In fact, the first breakfast was almost too successful, as firefighters soon had to seek extra food in order to feed the hundreds who attended.

To date, firefighters have raised more than $200,000 for the local MDA chapter and “Jerry’s Kids” through the breakfast and door-to-door drives.

“The goal is to do a little bit better every year,” said Camanche Fire Chief Dave Schutte.

The menu includes all-you-can-eat pancakes served with scrambled eggs, sausage, coffee and milk. Tickets may be purchased from any fireman or at the door for $6 for adults and $4 for children. This breakfast serves more than 1,000 people annually and takes many of the firemen, retired firemen, family and local volunteers to put together.

“We rely heavily on the retired firemen, our wives and the firefighters’ kids. They sell tickets and collect money. We’d never be able to do it all ourselves,” said Assistant Chief Bob Alm. “We get a lot of support from others helping us out.”

Schutte said the fire department also would not be able to host the breakfast without the generous support of the many organizations, businesses and individuals who sponsor the event.

“We have great volunteers and dedicated people who commit a lot of time each year to make this a successful fundraiser. Some of our volunteers and sponsors have helped every year of the 29 years we have done this,” he said.

At the breakfast, firefighters will sell raffle tickets for a chance to win a Ducks Unlimited print, donated by Phil and Carol Allen. Tickets for the raffle cost $2 each, three for $5 for six tickets for $10. The winner of the print will be chosen at the fire station after the MDA drive is complete.

During the Camanche Days parade at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Camanche firefighters will be handing out 200 kids breakfast tickets.

Beginning at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 27, members of the Camanche Volunteer Fire Department will be going door to door through Camanche collecting funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Firefighters finding no one at home will leave an envelope at the residence that can be mailed in or dropped off at the fire station. Any residents whose homes are missed or are unable to be home on Wednesday evening can stop by the fire station to make a donation.

From 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 16, firefighters, honorary firefighters and friends of the CVFD will host the annual Catfish Fry for Muscular Dystrophy at Imperial Lanes in Camanche. The public is invited to attend and bring a dish to share. During the potluck event, firefighters will collect donations for MDA.

Following completion of the door-to-door drive, members of the CVFD will present a check to MDA officials on the WQAD-TV-sponsored MDA Labor Day Telethon. Last year, Camanche firefighters presented a check to WQAD for $10,700, a record high for the department.

Schutte said the credit for the success of the MDA fundraising drive belongs to the Camanche community, which has been very supportive of the MDA drive throughout the years.

“Our MDA fundraisers are successful because of the support of local businesses, great volunteers and the people in the community. We’d just like to thank everyone for supporting our drive to raise funds for the MDA, because without their continued support it wouldn’t be a successful fundraiser,” Schutte said.

“We hope that everyone will come out and support this event like they have in the past. It's a great breakfast for a great cause and it benefits people in our area.”