2025 Calvin's Pancake Breakfast

 

It's FEBRUARY once again. 

We did our care packages (see entry before this one) and the next thing on the youth group agenda was the annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser. 

Last year I gave all sorts of facts and figures, and I'm transferring them here so you get a better idea of what has gone on over the years and how your donations have helped in many areas for our youth and other organizations.  

2009 -  $1,300 Peru trip 

2010 - $1,800 for Peru trip

2011 - $1,800 for Youth Group

2012 - $2,000 for Peru trip

2013 - $1,600 for Youth Group

2014 - Part 1  for Peru trip

2014 - Part 2  - $2,000 for Peru trip

2015 - $2600 for Youth Group and Gamaliel Christian School

2016 - $2350 for Peru Trip

Took a break in 2017

2018 - $2,000 for Peru trip 

2019 - $2,300 for Youth Group events and Ottawa Inner City Ministries

2020 -  $2139 -  All Ontario Convention 

2021 - No event due to COVID

2022 - No event due to COVID

2023 - $4118 for Mission trip to North Carolina and Refugees coming to Canada

2024 - $3062 for Mission trip to Kentucky and "Carleton Exam Pause Table"

2025 - $4020 for our Mission Trip to David, Kentucky and supporting our very own missionary Emily.  Our best fundraiser amount yet!!! 

The total profit made due to Calvin's generosity over the last 15 times, with a couple of breaks, has been 

$33,089  

WOW!  

THIS year we once again are raising funds to help support those going on the mission trip  (a.k.a. Learning Opportunity) to David, Kentucky to help with disaster relief.  A portion will also be donated to Emily, a missionary we sponsor here at Calvin. 

Going this year are

Ron 

Matthew 

Julia 

as adults, and youth are: 

Marika 

Annika 

Rohan (the MET but went with us last year)

Lewis

Holden

Theo

Gareth 

Petra (from Dixon's Corners). 

There are 20 others going from:

Montreal CRC

Dixon's CRC

Williamsburg CRC

Calvary CRC 

Kemptville CRC

for a total of 31. 

Below are the pics from this year.  

I was a bit busier this year helping serve, so there are not as many pictures, but for some of you that comes with a sigh of relief, I bet : ). 

Here we goooooooo!!! 

We began the night before by preparing the fruit. 

I went shopping with Phil this time (forgot to get a pic of him so go back to the 2024 one and just assume it's pretty much the same : ) ) 

This year we received some donations from Costco and Pancake Mix from Parrish and Heimbecker Milling Group (thanks for finding this Martin), which helped lower our costs.  We were very thankful for this.   

The group is hard at work. 

I see Rohan is pleased to be part of the group this year : )   

Running like a well-oiled machine - because I'm not getting involved : ) 

Yes, those scissors were washed first : ) 

Rohan and Theo said this worked better than the knives they were using : ) 

Phil asked someone to get the frozen fruit from the basement freezer and Theo, Gareth, and Rohan raced downstairs to get them. 

THEN they proceeded to work as a team to get the TWO bags upstairs.  Made me chuckle. : ) 

The end result always looks so colourful. 

No strawberries this year. 

TOOOOO expensive.  No one noticed : ) 

Adding the final touch to keep things good overnight.  

OJ. I see Marika, Petra, Annika and Emma are making sure Matt pours it juuussssttttt right : )  

We began at 6 a.m. on Saturday morning.  

We probably could have come in at 6:30.  

I need to make a note of that.  

Set up of the tables begins

The early birds went to work pouring the REAL syrup and getting jam into containers.  

We stopped for a prayer to bless our time together. 

Now this needs a comment : )

I asked Rohan to put a table by the door so we could put dishes on it as a transfer station. 

This is what Rohan thought I meant : )

Communication IS a fine art. 

That too made me chuckle.  

The team getting mixes mixed.  

Petra was on whipped cream duty. 

I discovered once again that this is a very important ingredient at the pancake breakfast.  

We didn't have a dedicated whipped cream person this year so I was kept hopping moving the bowls from table to table.   

Rohan on OJ duty.  

Phil gives all kinds of instructions. 

Holden, Theo, and Gareth are listening?? 

I think??? : ) 

Time to try out making Pannenkoeken.  

I googled how to spell it again and apparently there are two different ways? 

Pannenkoeken and Pannekoeken

Can someone set me straight as to which one is correct?  

Matt trying to get the blueberry pancakes to cook juuuusssstttt right : )

Looking good. 

Batter and whipped cream continues to be made.  

The whipped cream is ready and waiting for the pancakes 

Soon the guests will arrive. 

We have stocked up on Pannenkoeken (Pannekoeken), blueberry and plain pancakes.  The blueberry and plain ones seemed extra thick this time due to the mix that was donated.  

Our FIRST guests.  

It wasn't Nathan and Magaret and family, but it stayed IN the family once again.

Welcome Evert and Annet. 

A few minutes later they showed up :) 

Let's eat!!! 

our table setting.  

The first shift started at 8 a.m.  

This fundraiser is about more than raising money.  The youth get to work together and get to know each other better, and those who show up get to chat with people they have not seen in a long time in a less structured way.   Janika came all the way from Sudbury to join us.  Whoot!!! 

  

oh, and guess who dropped by to sample our food. 

None other than the infamous John!!!!  

I think he liked it, but he did let me know that some of the Pannenkoeken (Pannekoeken) had holes in them.  : ) 

It's good to have quality control people around.  

As I mentioned, part of the fun is socializing. 

BUT, 9:15 does come, and I had to ask some to leave or move to the couches :) 

Look at that precision work : ) 

Petra restocked the cutlery 

Rohan taking some time out for breakfast with his dad.  Sweet.  

The gathering of folk.  

Holden, Theo and Gareth taking a well-deserved break.  

Our 9:15 a.m. crowd. 

Before we knew it it was time to clean up and give away the leftovers. (which there was not much of this time around).    

We were done by 11:10.  Whoot!! 

Thanks to all who came out to support the youth group and Emily.  

Our best year ever thanks to all of you.  

Until next time D.V.  

2025 Care Packages

 Hey all, 

Welcome back to my Blog.  

It's January once again.  Time sure goes by quick. 

It seems just a short time ago that we were preparing care packages.  

Well, once again, we have done it. 

Year 11   

Last year I gave you some interesting facts about the past 10 years, etc, so you can go to that post to look all that up. 

This year we prepared 150 boxes, down from our 175.  

We had wonderful donors again, who contributed just over $2600 this year.   Prices have gone up, so I decided to curb the number of boxes.  

Here's what went into the boxes this time around (Some NEW items, and keeping out some older items)

1. Werther's originals 
2. Hot Chocolate  2 / box 
3. Juice boxe 1 / box (NEW)
4. Nature's Bakery Fig Bars - 1 / box (NEW)
5. Bear Paws - Chocolate Chip - 1 / box (NEW)
6. Herbal Teas - 2 / box
7. Oatmeal packages  3 / box
8. Mr. Noodle  1 / box
9. Celebration Mini Chocolate Chip in Packets - 1 / box
10. Trail mix   1 / box (NEW)
11. Nestle full-sized chocolate bars  1 / box
12. Kirkland Signature Soft & Chewy Granola Bars, 1.54 kg   - 2 / box
13. Small tissue packets -  1 / box
14. Gum packets -   1 per box plus extra
15. Microwave popcorn   2 / box
16. Swiss milk chocolate 
17. Fruitsations  2 / box
18. Brookside fruit and chocolate   - 1 / box (NEW)
19. Kirkland dip and chewy bars  - 1 / box
20. Lindt =- lindor chocolate balls - 1 / box (NEW)
21. Rice Crispy squares - 1 / box
22. $5 tim's cards   1 / box 
23. Card  1 / box

Thank you to all who donated to this annual ministry event.  

It all starts with a trip to Costco : ) 

as well as Loblaws and Food Basics, 

but the bulk of the shopping is done at Costco. 

Since we have a vacant office this year, 

I put all the supplies in there this time.  

On the day, I prepared the 150 boxes to save a bit of time.  

Leanne and Megan getting the supplies ready for those doing cards. 

Those that have arrived to participate.  

I thought there was Catechism last night too, but I actually goofed, so those that came were recruited as well.  

First, we get the supplies upstairs to the downstairs.  

Sisters hard at work. : ) 

We had mentors come to help out as well.  

Thanks for coming Salvador

Theo taking the heavier stuff.  

Now to get organized. 

I asked Phil to come and help again, and pulled Scott out of retirement for this evening.  He was glad to help out again too. Thanks to you both.  

Laying out all 150 boxes.  

And starting to fill them. 

The Catechism group was recruited to make cards. 

They had LOOTTSSS of fun : )

And even got some cards done as well. : ) 

It's always fun to fill the boxes.  

Hmmm, what to put in next?  

Filling continues. 

This year they got pretty full, thanks to some of the bigger items I purchased. 

Good thing I scaled down a weeee bit in the number of items I got or the boxes may not have closed : ) 

Rohan and his friend arrived late, so they also did card duty, 

but they were happy to do it.  

Theo found ways to exert the least amount of energy as he flattened boxes : ) 

Once full, Phil added the $5 Tim's cards and the other cards made by us. 

And then these wonderful people made sure the boxes would actually close : )  

Then Fred and Theo (mentor/mentee) sealed them shut.  

I discovered that those temperamental packing guns have a tensioner on them and if you adjust it, they actually don't stick as much. 

Go figure : ) 

The card-making group grew so we could get the boxes packed sooner than later.  

Finished!!  

Way to go team! 

Then it was time to store them.  

Theo wanted to try to be the one to hold the most boxes. 

I think he has 8 here.  

Cute way to store them : ) 

Thanks once again to all who donated funds towards this ministry event. Thanks to our youth and mentors who came out to make this happen once again. 

Now it's time to hand the boxes out and bless those who God has prepared to be blessed.