Short stacks, big impact at Lions pancake breakfast

The morning started with clouds and drizzle, but by the time the sausage was sizzling and the pancake griddles were humming, the sun had found its way to True Friends Camp Eden Wood in Eden Prairie.

So had the people.

The Eden Prairie Lions Club’s annual Pancake Breakfast drew 576 guests on Sunday, April 27 – a hearty turnout for a community tradition that’s been feeding families and raising funds since the 1980s.

“We didn’t run out of anything,” said event chair and Lions Club member Barbara Hanson, now in her third year leading the breakfast. “The sun came out, and everyone seemed to have a good time. I even got compliments on the pancakes and sausage.”

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The rush peaked around 10 a.m., when tables filled and latecomers scanned the room for open seats. But everyone got fed, Hanson said, and the volunteers – a crew of efficient, cheerful Lions – kept the lines moving and the coffee flowing.

The menu included pancakes and syrup donated by the Original Pancake House, sausage, and kid-friendly toppings like whipped cream and chocolate chips. “People really love the sausage,” Hanson said.

Held each spring at the camp’s dining hall on Indian Chief Road, the all-you-can-eat fundraiser supports a wide range of causes. From mid-2019 to early 2024, the Eden Prairie Lions Club donated more than $207,000 to local nonprofits and city services – including $50,000 to True Friends Camp Eden Wood, thousands in student scholarships, and funding for public safety equipment like CPR mannequins and police drone technology.

All proceeds from the breakfast go back to the community.

With Schooner Days just weeks away – set for May 30 to June 1 at Round Lake Park – the Pancake Breakfast kicks off a busy season for the Eden Prairie Lions Club.

“It’s a fun time, and it’s for a good cause,” Hanson said ahead of this year’s breakfast. “It’s one of those events that brings people together – and that’s what we’re here for.”