This year, Kiwanis is also supporting projects connected to Oak Park Elementary school and future improvements to the inclusive playground planned for Wilson Morgan Park.
The organization also awards annual scholarships to local students and supports leadership development programs for young people throughout Decatur City Schools and Morgan County Schools.
For longtime Kiwanis member Bill Stone, that commitment to service is what has kept him involved for nearly six decades.
Stone joined Kiwanis in the early 1960s and has maintained nearly 60 years of perfect attendance.
“It’s just part of my life,” Stone said.
More Than a Fundraiser
Part of what has allowed Pancake Day to last for 60 years is the way it brings people together.
For many families, Pancake Day has become a tradition passed down through generations. Parents who attended as children now bring their own kids and grandkids, continuing a community tradition that has connected Decatur residents for decades.
Mayor Lawrence remembers attending Pancake Day as a child with his mother, who loved seeing friends and reconnecting with familiar faces throughout the event.
That sense of connection still defines Pancake Day today.
People come for breakfast, but they also come to catch up with neighbors, support local students, volunteer alongside friends, and be part of something bigger than themselves.
More than 200 volunteers help make the event possible every year, including many local students who spend the day serving food, cleaning tables, greeting guests, and helping in the kitchen.
For Stone, that community spirit is what continues to make both Kiwanis and Decatur special.
“It’s a great town,” he said. “It really is.”
Why It Matters
The success of Pancake Day says a lot about Decatur itself.
Events like this don’t continue for 60 years without strong community support. They survive because people believe in what they support and because organizations like Kiwanis continue to invest directly back into the community.
For generations, Kiwanis has helped improve the quality of life for local children and families through scholarships, playground projects, school partnerships, and support for nonprofits.
Over time, those investments become part of the community itself. In many ways, Pancake Day has become a reflection of Decatur itself: welcoming, service-minded, and deeply rooted in community.
And after 60 years, Pancake Day continues to reflect what has always made Decatur special: people who continue showing up for each other.
