Pancakes, griddle cakes, flapjacks, pan-flaps.
Whatever you call them, the tasty breakfast treat certainly knows how to put a smile on anyone's face.
Port Coquitlam firefighters recently brought cheerful, delicious eats to dozens of local families in celebration of a milestone in providing nutritious meals to young students.
At 8 a.m. on Feb. 17, before the first bell rung for classes, James Park Elementary co-hosted a pancake breakfast with the Port Coquitlam Professional Firefighters Charitable Society.
The event marked a milestone for School District 43 (SD43) as a new industrial fridge was recently acquired to support the meal program at the PoCo institution.
"Our average meals are about 250 up to 400 per day. It gives us the opportunity to connect to get nutrition and to kids," said James Park principal Rob Wright.
"And it all happens because we get the immense support from the firefighters charitable society."
"We love this community and it's such a good way for us to connect with families and connect families with resources in the community," added school community development facilitator Hannah MacDonald.
"We are so thankful to the [Port Coquitlam] fire department and everything that they've done for us. It's such a positive thing to be a part of, and an amazing thing in our community."
About a dozen off-duty PoCo firefighters flipped the pancakes, cooked the breakfast sausage and interacted with the kids in attendance.
In November last year, more than $135,000 was raised from the inaugural Mayor's Charity Ball.
The funds were earmarked for the very same nutritional snack programs run by the Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam Firefighters' Charitable Societies.
The programs are said to provide roughly 7,000 meals a year to SD43 students.
