By Carleen Wild
Moody County Enterprise
Just over 410 folks were served either regular or blueberry pancakes – or one of each – along with scrambled eggs and ham and drink.
A few of the firemenworking in the kitchen were Logan Yost, David Bryan, Bobby Johanson, Tim Yeaton, Jud Krull and Colton Plooster.
This time of year, local fire and rescue crews tend to get busy — and not just on emergency calls. They’re also flipping pancakes, serving chislic and hosting community meals that double as some of their most important fundraisers of the year.
The Flandreau Fire Department held its annual pancake feed this past weekend, pulling in a good crowd.
“Been a steady flow, get to say hello to a lot of people,” Fire Chief Don Peters said.
The funds raised do far more than put syrup on plates. They help outfit trucks, update equipment and support the volunteers who serve the broader community.
“Past years we’ve bought a floating pump so if we’re in an area with no water we can get water out of a crick, pond, or river,” Peters said. “We’ve used it to replace gloves, hoods — it’s pretty endless.”
In recent years, fundraiser dollars have helped purchase a flatbed, tank, bumper and toolboxes for a new brush truck, along with covering a portion of the truck’s cost. The department has added new LED lighting to multiple trucks, installed decals and striping, purchased a commercial washer and dryer for gear, plumbed air lines in the new hall to keep trucks ready to roll, and upgraded the suspension on its side-by-side to better handle water loads.
Crews are also working on new tires for the department’s older LaFrance truck and restoring its wooden wheel spokes.
“None of this is possible without the support from the community,” Peters said, noting that city operational budgets are typically consumed by basic maintenance and repairs.
In years past, fundraising has also helped purchase multiple brush trucks, a utility vehicle, a rescue truck, a portion of the ladder truck and upgrades to the department’s boat.
Turkey bingo and a chislic feed have joined the lineup of events that keep the department moving forward.
Colman and Trent fire departments will host their own upcoming pancake and nut feeds in the weeks ahead — all gatherings that help ensure our rural departments are ready when the inevitable calls come in.
And there’s also many other organizations holding their annual breakfast fundraising events. See page five for a list of those known to the Moody County Enterprise.
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