BOARDMAN — Even though the health pandemic scrapped a longtime event the Rotary Club of Boardman was to have hosted last March, the club’s reach and scope continued to stack up.

“Last year’s event was canceled, but we were still able to donate over $60,000 back to the community,” Maggie Garland recalled.

One year later, however, batter was once again covering two large grills as several Rotarians busily prepared pancakes Saturday for the 84-member service club’s 38th annual pancake breakfast fundraiser at the Lariccia Family Community Center in Boardman Park.

The breakfast, which continues 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today as well as Saturday and next Sunday at the center, is drive-thru and pickup only, said Garland, event chairwoman. Those in their vehicles are asked to wear face masks.

Club members are taking $5 donations per order that will be used to support various community organizations and service projects. Checks should be made out to “Boardman Rotary,” with “pancake breakfast” on the subject line.

Garland and John Rudolph, another event organizer, noted that they’re anticipating this year’s fundraiser will bring in about $10,000.

“It’s all going directly back into the community,” Garland emphasized.

This year’s fund recipients include the Youngstown Foundation, the Purple Cat, the Salvation Army, Camp Stambaugh, Golden String Radio, Mahoning County Career and Technical Center and the Boardman branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Garland explained. She added that last year’s donated funds benefited several area agencies and went toward creating a variety of scholarships.

In addition, money raised this year will fund five scholarships — two for Boardman High School students and one each for Mahoning County Career and Technical Center as well as South Range and Springfield Local high schools, noted Leo Daprile, a member of Boardman Rotary’s youth-services committee.

Two years ago, the club helped Boardman High pay for a $5,000 wireless communications system. Rotarians also assisted after learning that the school needed camera equipment for its media class, Daprile recalled.

This year’s event may lack in-house dining and socialization, but it’s set up to strictly conform to Ohio Department of Health guidelines and standards, largely by having adopted a socially distanced, assembly-line style of preparing and packaging the pancakes and sausage before getting the items safely to people’s vehicles, Daprile explained.

“It’s a 10-point process that we have down to a science,” he said. “It’s gone off without a hitch.”

If you go …

WHAT: The Boardman Rotary’s 38th annual pancake breakfast fundraiser

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today as well as Saturday and March 28

WHERE: The Lariccia Family Community Center in Boardman Park

COST: $5 donation to support community organizations and service projects. Drive-thru and pickup orders only.