STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK
It was pitch black and still raining when Kristin Anderson arrived at the Ketchum Town Square at 5:30 a.m. Saturday.
She and other members of the Papoose Club wiped the water off the tables by the light of the street lamp and their own head lamps. Then they went to work mixing big containers of pancake batter with a drill and yard-long beater normally used to mix paint.
The Papoose Club’s Wagon Days Pancake Breakfast would go on, just as it had for the previous 45 years.
“I’ve done this for 25 years and what I love about this is that it’s a great example of what the Papoose Club does—raising money for children and building community as it brings people together,” said Anderson.
About 50 volunteers quickly assumed their positions in a process that resembled an assembly line with five people scrambling eggs, the Papoose Club grill meister getting the perfect tan on the sausage and others pouring orange juice and cutting clumps of grapes.
“Flipping pancakes is like golf. The easier you do it the smoother it goes,” said Phil Doerflein.
Last year the Papoose Club served 1,100 plates of pancakes over two days.
Judy Whitmyre remembers when the breakfasts cost $3.50 and Joanne Wetherell remembers when they cost $5. But she didn’t flinch at paying double digits for a plate this time, knowing the money would be used to help fund youth endeavors in the Wood River Valley.
“What I love about the Papoose Club is that you don’t have to have money to join. You just have to want to help, as we make our money putting on the pancake breakfast, a plant sale at Webb Nursery and the Holiday Bazaar,” said Anderson.
This year’s volunteers included youngsters in organizations that have received funding from the Papoose Club, including robotics club members and kids involved in the Wood River Middle School’s outdoor program. Several Sun Valley Community School students helped out as part of their community service requirement.
Among them, Asher May who helped out last year and Jake Jacoby, who grew up eating at the breakfast with his family.
“I like cooking. and I like people,” he said.
“It’s fun to help people,” added Aiden Johnston. “It makes you feel good.”
Businesses also pitched in with Lutz Rentals donating the drill and other tools and Idaho Lumber, the tables and chairs.
The Papoose Club will be back in action today, flipping pancakes from 8 a.m. to noon at Ketchum Town Square.
COMING UP:
The Papoose Club will have an Open House Social for men and women at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, at the Sun Valley Culinary Institute in Ketchum.
Those in attendance will learn about the organization, which was founded in 1954, while enjoying beverages and hors d’oeuvres.
“It’s even an opportunity for younger moms who may have just moved to the valley and want something to do,” said Kimberly Tenold, co-vice president of the club with Maureen Dahlen.