Kiwanians support Family Promise chapter at pancake breakfast

By Dana Kampa
| 7:40 p.m. March 28, 2026

Sue Wertman and Ann Quackenbush join their sister-in-law, Molly Quackenbush, in enjoying a pancake breakfast fundraiser hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key. Chris Sachs and fellow Kiwanians volunteers to raise support for Family Promise of Sarasota-Manatee.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

The pancakes were stacked high and coffee was flowing at the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key's recent pancake breakfast fundraiser.

The March 28 breakfast at the Lazy Lobster restaurant benefited the local Sarasota-Manatee chapter of Family Promise, an organization supporting families facing homelessness.

Community members filled the restaurant before filling their plates with unlimited breakfast foods. Proceeds from the meal, cocktail bar and raffle tickets will go directly to supporting families.

Last year, the club raised $4,000 for Family Promise of Sarasota-Manatee from the popular pancake event.

This chapter was established in 2008, and representative Cindy Schalk said the team is incredibly proud that instead of reaching the 120 families they had hoped to help in their initial five-year plan, they have instead reached about 700.

She said much of the credit for so greatly surpassing that goal goes to Executive Director Tara Maffei and fellow leaders.

To learn more about the chapter, visit FamilyPromiseSarasota-Manatee.org.

Longboat Key first responders showed their support for the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key pancake fundraiser March 28 at the Lazy Lobster. From left, Lt. Ron Koper, FF/Paramedia Josh Falcon, FF/Paramedic David Oliger, FF/Paramedic William Lewis and Lt. Tim Haas.

Cindy Schalk, Robbin Haynes, and Ellen and Jim Marsey, leaders with Family Promise of Sarasota-Manatee, dine at the pancake fundraiser hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key.

Shannon Gault dishes up biscuits at the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key breakfast fundaiser.

Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key members Gary Coffin and Lynn Armstrong Coffin keep seating running smoothly at the March 28 pancake fundraiser at the Lazy Lobster.

The pancake fundraiser is a cherished tradition among Kiwanians, who most recently supported the local Family Promise of Sarasota-Manatee chapter.

author

Dana Kampa

Dana Kampa is the Longboat Key neighbors reporter for the Observer. She first ventured into journalism in her home state of Wisconsin, going on to report community stories everywhere from the snowy mountains of Washington State to the sunny shores of the Caribbean. She has been a writer and photographer for more than a decade, covering what matters most to readers.