Correspondent photo / Sean Barron Bill Trigg, a 40-year Rotarian, busily flips pancakes during Boardman Rotary’s 39th annual Pancake Breakfast fundraiser Saturday in Boardman Park. The event, which continues today and next weekend, is drive-thru and pickup only.

BOARDMAN — A popular longtime gathering may have a few restrictions, but it continues to have an unrestricted impact on the community, an event organizer says.

“They’re just happy to continue the tradition,” John Rudolph, the Boardman Rotary Club’s co-chairman, said.

Rudolph was referring to the Rotary club’s 39th annual Pancake Breakfast fundraiser, which kicked off Saturday at Boardman Park’s Lariccia Family Community Center.

The event continues 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today, Saturday and March 27 at the center.

Even though the breakfast is drive-thru and pickup only, proceeds will continue to go toward assisting community agencies with a variety of projects for which they may seek funds, Rudolph noted.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, last year’s breakfast brought in more than $13,000, he recalled, adding that this year’s goal is $14,500.

“We’re able to put 100 percent of the money back into the community, which was our goal,” Rudolph said, adding that the breakfast is Rotary’s second largest fundraiser, next to the annual Oktoberfest craft show.

Boardman Rotary has helped families in need close to Thanksgiving each year receive holiday meals. The civic organization also works closely with the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center as well as the Boardman Local School District, Rudolph said.

Specifically, the Rotary is planning to distribute four $1,000 scholarships this week to eligible Boardman High School students. Recipients will be required to deliver two-minute speeches that align with Rotary’s Four-Way Test, which is a nonpartisan and nonsectarian ethical guide for Rotarians to use for their professional and personal relationships.

In essence, the test’s four tenets focus on whether what Rotarians say, think and do is truthful, fair, able to build goodwill and stronger friendships, and be beneficial to all concerned, according to www.my.rotary.org.

The students’ speeches should demonstrate that they each are a “functioning and good humanistic person,” Rudolph said.

One of those who was happy to demonstrate his desire to learn more about community service was Grant Cornman, 6, of Canfield, who was busy Saturday morning packaging boxes of pancakes and link sausage for delivery and pickup.

“Last year, he played; now he wants to help,” said Grant’s mother, Lindsey Cornman, who also is Rudolph’s fiancee.

Rudolph also thanked Sam’s Club for providing most of the food for the breakfast.

If you go …

WHAT: Boardman Rotary’s 39th annual Pancake Breakfast. Drive-thru and pickup only.

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today, Saturday and March 27

WHERE: Boardman Park’s Lariccia Family Community Center, 375 Boardman-Poland Road, Boardman

COST: $5 donation per order