SOFI LAWSON
Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of local churches, schools and businesses, UnitingCare’s Pancake Day is on track to raise more money this year than ever before.
Locals cooked up delicious pancakes to raise money for Victorian and Tasmanian UnitingCare agencies.
The annual UnitingCare event, now in its 14th year, is traditionally held on Shrove Tuesday and is a great way to bring local communities together while making a real difference to people’s lives.
Shrove Tuesday is the final day of indulgence before Lent, a 40-day period of abstinence leading up to Easter. Historically, Christians gave up food such as butter and eggs during Lent. This led to the tradition of making pancakes to use up the ingredients.
Every year locals hold Pancake Day events across homes, schools, workplaces and community groups.
Staff at Epworth hospital in Richmond and Epworth Eastern in Box Hill showed their commitment to a long-standing tradition and cooked up delicious pancakes for staff, patients and visitors.
Epworth Eastern pastoral care worker Libby Murray said there was a happy and fun atmosphere throughout the morning of Pancake Day.
“I heard people say ‘I love Pancake Day’ on many occasions from people who were more than happy to buy pancakes,” Ms Murray said.
“Even the aroma of the pancakes brought a smile to people’s faces as they walked by. It was an enjoyable experience for all those involved whether serving or eating delicious pancakes.”
Together both events raised $1155 which will provide much-needed support for people suffering from homelessness, domestic violence, addictions and financial hardship.
Uniting Church congregations also showed their support by holding Pancake Day events last month.
St Leonard’s Uniting Church members beat their personal best after raising in excess of $2000 at their event.
Leopold Uniting Church and local volunteers helped raise more than $1500 for UnitingCare Geelong to help support local disadvantaged families. Coordinator Ken Flavell said congregational members and community volunteers cooked pancakes at Leopold Primary School.
It’s the fourth year the church has catered for nearly 800 children, together with parents, grandparents and school staff along with a few other interested residents.
“By 8.30am it’s all action,” Mr Falvell said.
“Trays of pancakes being rushed from BBQs to serving tables, plates being loaded at a great rate and topping-distributors fulfilling the requests to lots of happy faces. Not one person missed out on a pancake – the cheerful, delighted, appreciative faces of so many were the best donations.
“The bell rang and the children disappeared and so had 30 boxes of pancake mix, six litres of maple syrup and one litre of strawberry jam.”
Since 2002, millions of pancakes have been flipped and sold to raise funds for UnitingCare agencies. Last year’s Pancake Day raised over $80,000. Organisers are hoping to reach $100,000 this year.
UnitingCare Australia National Director Lin Hatfield Dodds said it has been an exciting start to Pancake Day with many supporting the worthy cause.
“We would like to thank everyone who held an event in their local community or bought a couple of yummy pancakes to support us,” Ms Hatfield Dodds said.
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