By Marisa Dawson

The smell of pancakes and the sound of conversation filled the Bennington Legion Hall on Saturday morning, April 18 as Bennington Legion Post 266 hosted its annual pancake feed fundraiser, welcoming nearly 200 community members through its doors.

The longstanding tradition is one of the Legion’s most important events of the year, bringing together veterans, families, and community supporters for a morning centered on food, fellowship, and giving back.

Planning for the event begins well in advance. Legion member Larry Arp said timing is key to ensuring a strong turnout. “We have to always set a date that doesn’t interfere with Easter,” Arp said. “And then we have it late enough so that hopefully the weather’s nice.”

From there, preparations become a community effort. Donations and contributions, from both businesses and Legion members, help make the event possible. “Hy-Vee donated eggs and the butter patties for us,” Arp said. “And then we, our members, donate things like the plates and silverware, the coffee and everything else that goes with it.”

Volunteers gather the night before to set up, and by morning, a well-practiced team takes over the kitchen. “We have certain guys that do the sausage and some eggs and some pancakes, and the rest we can trade off,” Arp said, noting volunteers typically spend around 30 hours preparing ahead of time.

The breakfast operates on a free-will donation basis, allowing attendees to give what they can. That flexibility often leads to generous support. “If people want to donate five dollars, a dollar, or $20… we had one one donation for $500,” Arp said. “So it works out well.”

Proceeds from the event go toward supporting Legion baseball teams, scholarships, Girls’/Boys’ State attendees, and other community needs. As the number of Legion baseball teams continues to grow, so does the need for support.

“They have so many teams now,” Arp said. “And I know we aren’t able to supply all of their demands, but we are doing the best we can. So this helps.”

The partnership between the Legion and local baseball programs remains a vital part of the fundraiser’s mission. “I think part of it is they rely on us for some deals, and we rely on them to advertise for us, and that kind of works together,” Arp said. Typically when game schedules allow, the baseball team members volunteer during the event as well. 

Beyond fundraising, the event serves as a gathering point for the community, something Arp says is his favorite part. “The camaraderie that we have with the people coming in,” he said. “We know a lot of them, some of them not too much, but we get in the back and we banter back and forth, and we enjoy it.”

In addition to the breakfast, members of the Legion Auxiliary hosted a bake sale, raising funds to support scholarships and programs such as Girls State. “Our money is usually used for Girls State and for school scholarships,” said Auxiliary member Diane Warrick.

This year, two local students will have the opportunity to attend Girls’ State, plus one student who will attend Boys’ State, an experience Warrick described as impactful. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for the girls,” she said. “A lot of the girls are surprised at how much they learn about our state government and how to navigate through the different departments.”

For Warrick, the event also carries deep personal meaning, reflecting generations of community involvement. “I grew up doing it,” she said. “I was just pointing out different people that are sitting here going, oh, they’ve been here for generations… we have two and three generations sitting here as we’re talking. So it’s fun to see how the families grow.”

The morning also drew visits from local leaders, including Bennington Police Officers and Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson, who spent time talking with residents, handing out stickers to kids, and listening to community concerns.

“When you’re Sheriff, you work directly for the people,” Hanson said. “And these are my bosses… I love to come talk to my bosses and not only get to know them better, integrate in with them during their community events, but also it’s a good opportunity to hear about things that they prioritize.”

Hanson said conversations often center around public safety issues. “They want their streets to be safe, both from criminals, but even these crazy reckless drivers that the sheriff’s office is pursuing so consistently,” he said. “And they’re also concerned about these scammers that are trying to drain the bank accounts of senior citizens.”

He also emphasized the importance of showing appreciation for local veterans. “My dad’s a veteran. Both my grandparents were veterans,” Hanson said. “And it’s important for me to tell these veterans how much we appreciate them. Their service means so much.”

As plates were filled and conversations continued throughout the morning, the event once again proved to be more than just a fundraiser. It was a reflection of the strong community ties that continue to define Bennington.