Breakfast to benefit Salem Mennonite youth group
Rachael Clark, left, and Stephanie Ediger, mothers of members of the youth group at Salem Mennonite Church, help mix up pancakes at the 2022 youth group fundraiser breakfast. This year’s breakfast is Nov. 11.
Besides being involved in multiple sports and school activities, the youth group at Salem Mennonite Church in Kidron also serves the community.
On Nov. 11 from 7:30-10 a.m., group members and their parents will host the second annual pancake and sausage breakfast at Salem Church, 3363 Zuercher Road, Kidron.
Last fall the funds raised supported the kids’ mission trip this summer to Guatemala. The summer before that, they served in Benton Harbor, Michigan. In 2024, although yet undecided, their service trip will be more local.
“The money raised at the pancake breakfast helps fund our youths’ summer programming,” said Hank Unruh, family life pastor at Salem. “I think that summer mission trips and youth gatherings are impactful in the lives of our youth. It allows them to experience different communities and to see how God is at work there. It helps our youth understand what Jesus meant when he calls us to serve others. Funds from the pancake breakfast help us provide those opportunities to our youth.”
The donation-only event drew over 150 people last year.
“It was exciting for youth to see people come and support them,” Unruh said. “I remember at different points having youth introduce me to friends, neighbors, teachers and family that I had not met before. They were excited to see people come and eat pancakes and sausage.”
Streb’s sausage, fruit toppings and syrups will complete the meal, and gluten-free pancakes also will be an option.
“The youth at Salem are a fun group of youth. They are energetic, caring and strive to be challenged,” Unruh said. “It is amazing to see them serve alongside one another and to push each other in their faith. When I see what these youth are doing and hear them talk about what they want to be, I get excited for the future of the church.”
The youth group has around 25 high-schoolers from four local schools. They also are involved in other parts of church life including helping in the tech booth on Sunday mornings, singing in the choir, helping prepare church spaces and assisting with events like Vacation Bible School. Many of them will help serve pancakes, sausage and drinks on Nov. 11.
“We would love to see you there,” Unruh said. “Events like this help support our youth, but they also help our youth serve the community as well. We would love to see more familiar and unfamiliar faces this year.”