Interfaith Food Bank serves up the flapjacks

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on August 24, 2022.

Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman Interfaith Food Bank volunteers serve pancakes, sausage, eggs and baked beans to members of the community Tuesday morning at the Interfaith Food Bank.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

The Interfaith Food Bank was able to offer members of the community a pancake breakfast once again, after a two year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Executive director of the Interfaith Food Bank, Danielle McIntyre, said they were very excited to welcome people to their pancake breakfast in person again.

“We’re so happy to see that the crowds have come back, we’re expecting to serve 1000 people today. Most of the product that we’re serving has been donated from the community,” said McIntyre.

She said this year marked their 14th annual pancake breakfast not counting the two year break.

“We’re super excited that we have this newly-expanded space that we’re able to offer it in this year, which is a huge improvement from what we’ve done in the past,” said McIntyre.

She said that having a space where they were able to set up tables and give people a space to eat, allowed them to use their parking lot for parking.

McIntyre said they had to take the two year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic because the pancake breakfast was something they were unable to find an alternate deliver format for.

“With Canada Day we did barbecue in a bag, where people could pick it up here and party at home, but this one we feel just has to be a gathering on site, with the pancakes cooking and the smell of the sausages,” said McIntyre.

She said many of the same faces came by this year and it was wonderful to see them bringing their family and friends with them.

“We’ve had a good steady stream all day and I’m hoping it will continue,” said McIntyre.

By 8 a.m. they had over 40 people in attendance enjoying their breakfast with more arriving constantly. By 8:30 a.m. there was a line-up of approximately 10 people waiting to pay for their breakfast.

“We always like to highlight that it’s a healthy pancake breakfast, because the food bank uses this as an opportunity to promote our community kitchen, where we’re teaching people how to cook healthy food on a limited budget,” said McIntyre.

She said that on top of the traditional pancakes and sausages, they had real fruit, eggs, baked beans and juice.

The pancake breakfast took place between 7 a.m. – 10 a.m. at the Interfaith Food Bank offering those in attendance door prizes, a photo booth, entertainment and games in the garden.

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