Boone County Fire Protection District II sponsors annual pancake breakfast

By Matt Helm
Reporter
GARDEN PRAIRE ─ The Boone County Fire Protection District II sponsored their annual fireman’s pancake breakfast on Sunday, March 6 from 7 a.m. to noon at the Garden Prairie District II Fire Station.
“We like to hold this breakfast for the people of the Garden Prairie community,” event organizer and firefighter Brian Block said. “We have our events in Belvidere, but this is something special we can do for the people out here just for them.”
The menu consisted of pancakes, sausage, bacon, eggs, toast, applesauce, milk and coffee all prepared and served by the firemen of District II.
“It’s a nice way for the community to interact with and get to know their District II firemen,” Block said. “We cook to order and can make eggs any way people want them, like scrambled or over easy. This is the first year we are serving bacon and people seem to really be enjoying that.”
The breakfast was a free event, but there was sausage available to purchase.
“We sell a lot of the same stuff we use to cook with, it all comes from local area farms,” Block said.
Community members were encouraged to give donations in a basket at the door as well.
“All of the money goes back to the fire department,” Block said. “In fact, most of it will be put right back into the breakfast for next year. We just bought two new grills for this year and they are working out great.”
Donations also go towards the purchase of new firefighting equipment. District II is considering the possibility of purchasing a new tanker in the future.
“We don’t charge for a reason, we really do this breakfast to maintain our strong relationship with the community,” Block said. “The breakfast is open to anyone of all ages. We get older people in here from church, as well as little kids. We have crayons and coloring pages for them to entertain themselves with.”
The Boone County Fire Protection District II has hosted the annual breakfast for upwards of 45 years.
“We appreciate all of the people that come out and help make this breakfast possible,” Block said. “If it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be able to have it. This really is an event by the community and for the community.”
The Fire Department will sell their popular donuts at the Boone County Fair this summer in order to raise more money.
They are also hosting their annual Women’s Auxiliary Light Your Fire 5K Run/Walk in order to support the Order of St. Francis burn unit as well as others in need on Sept. 13.
Contact the BCFD II for more information about upcoming events.