Stacked With Fun: Bennington Firefighters Serve Up a Morning of Flapjacks and Firetrucks

By Marisa Dawson

Two men preparing plates of pancakes at a community event inside a garage, with a table covered in plates and food.

The Bennington Firefighter’s Memorial Foundation’s annual pancake feed brought families, first responders and community organizations together Saturday morning, October 3, for a breakfast filled with pancakes, fire trucks, kids’ activities and opportunities to learn about safety.

Hosted at the Bennington Fire Department, the annual event serves as the foundation’s primary fundraiser of the year while also giving residents a chance to interact with firefighters and paramedics outside of an emergency.

Nichol Johnson, president of the Bennington Firefighter’s Memorial Foundation, said the foundation’s mission is intentionally broad.

“Our mission is to support the past, present and future of the fire department,” Johnson said.

The foundation uses events like this to raise money in support of the department while also creating opportunities to strengthen the relationship between first responders and the community. Johnson said the money raised through the pancake feed provides the foundation with much of the funding it has available to support the department throughout the following year.

A group of children and volunteers serving food at a community event. Volunteers are wearing blue sweatshirts and gloves, while children in hoodies are holding plates as they receive meals.

“The money raised at the pancake feed is really what I have for the next year,” Johnson said. “It can help support the department in different ways depending on the needs of that year.”

For the firefighters working the event, the fundraiser is also a chance to see the community they serve come together.

Firefighter/EMT Cole Keller, who was participating in the pancake feed for the first time since joining the crew, said the turnout was one of the highlights of the morning.

“You don’t really know how big it can be until everybody’s here and the line’s packed and it’s out the door,” Keller said. “So I think that’s definitely the highlight is seeing how many people care and just want to be here.”

Families had plenty to keep them busy throughout the morning. A raffle filled with a variety of donated prizes kept everyone coming back for raffle tickets in hopes of claiming a basket. Children could explore the fire trucks, climb aboard emergency vehicles and enjoy a firetruck bounce house. Paw Patrol’s Marshall also made an appearance, adding another attraction for younger attendees.

A firefighter holding a young child with a green drink, standing next to a costumed character resembling a dog. A woman is seen in the background, along with fire trucks visible through the garage doors.

A child in a gray sweater interacts with a costumed character resembling a dalmatian at a festive indoor event. An adult woman stands beside the child, smiling.

Firefighter/Paramedic Jake Needham said seeing kids interact with the trucks is one of his favorite parts of the event.

“I just like to see everyone here,” Needham said. “It’s always fun to see families come.”

“Little kids, they’ll climb in the fire trucks,” he added. “They’ll get to have that cool experience. I know for a lot of kids, they’ll remember getting in the fire trucks the rest of their lives.”

A young woman in a pink sweatshirt and a backpack examines materials at a table with children's safety information, while a young girl in a yellow sweater holds a paper. A man in a blue jacket watches attentively, and a car seat with a doll is displayed on the table. In the background, a fire truck is visible.

The event also offered opportunities for families to learn about safety and resources available in the community. Children’s Nebraska provided information about car seat and Halloween safety, while the Bennington fire crew demonstrated hands-only CPR and gave attendees an opportunity to practice. The department also used the event to spread awareness about PulsePoint, a free app that can alert nearby registered users when someone needs CPR in a public location, potentially allowing a trained bystander to begin lifesaving care before emergency responders arrive.

A group of people engaging at a public safety event, discussing emergency response and CPR training while standing near informational booths and equipment.

A group of people observing a woman performing CPR on a training dummy at a community event, demonstrating emergency response techniques.

A man performing CPR on a training dummy while a group of onlookers, including a woman in a grey sweatshirt and a person in red scrubs, observe at an educational event.

Two children are practicing CPR on a training manikin at an event, while a third child observes nearby.

Drug safety information was also available, giving families another opportunity to learn about ways to keep children and the community safe.

Kyle Jensen, a Bennington firefighter/EMT, said the pancake feed gives residents an opportunity to see another side of the people behind the department. He said the event allows firefighters to interact with residents in a setting where they are not responding to an emergency.

“I think it’s just awesome to show the people who we are outside of the lights and sirens going down the street. We’re humans too, here to get those community connections and relations,” Jensen said.

Needham said the family atmosphere is another important part of the event.

“I hope it’s a good family event,” Needham said. “A lot of times people will come, they’ll bring their families.”

A group of children and adults gathered around a fire truck, with a firefighter standing nearby. The children are smiling and interacting, while adults chat and observe. The fire truck features visible 'STOP' signs.

For Nichol Johnson, that sense of community is exactly what she hopes attendees take away from the morning.

“What I want people to take away from this event is just the idea of community,” Johnson said.

That goal was also reflected in the foundation’s partnership with the Bennington Community Food Pantry, which accepted donations during the event. Johnson said the partnership was a way to show that the fire department’s role in the community extends beyond responding to emergencies.

“It’s a great way to show that the department can be there for our community in more ways than just emergencies,” she said.

A sheriff's deputy engages with a group of people sitting at a table during a community event, as others interact in the background. — *Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson also stopped by the pancake feed.*

Keller said the pancake feed has become a familiar Saturday tradition in Bennington, giving families something to look forward to while offering plenty of opportunities for kids to explore.

The event has also become an opportunity for the department to open its doors and give residents a closer look at what firefighters do.

Kyle Jensen said pancake feeds are a long-standing tradition among area fire departments, but there is something special about bringing that tradition to Bennington.

“I think it’s good to have everybody come out and get to enjoy a meal with us and see the inside workings of how we look and just see things that people don’t get to see every day,” Jensen said.

Johnson said another highlight is watching months of preparation finally come together, and seeing familiar faces return year after year.

Two individuals seated at a table with various game tickets and cups; one person is holding a roll of tickets while the other looks on.

Three people inspecting tables filled with various items at an event.

“It’s really neat seeing the same people come year after year!” Johnson added.

The foundation’s relationship with the fire department is also about more than simply raising money. The firefighters said Johnson’s presence and hands-on involvement make a difference.

“She supports us,” Keller said. “It’s not like someone who never shows face and just asks for money. She’s here all the time,” he added. “She’s setting up. She’s here with us right now, tearing down.”

Needham said the foundation supports both career and volunteer members of the department, helping with everything from equipment to events.

“They support us all the way through, both on the career and the volunteer side,” Needham said. “So they do a lot of different things for us. Whether it’s equipment or different events. They do a lot of things.”

For Jensen, having that support means knowing the department has people in its corner when needs arise.

“It’s awesome just to know that they have our back and help out with all the things that we do, just to know that they’re there to help us when we need it,” Jensen said. “It’s awesome to have support.”

A woman and two boys are engaged at a table during an event. The woman supervises while one boy points at items on the table, which include pens, paper, and a bowl of candy. There are other tables and attendees visible in the background.

As families finished their breakfasts and children continued exploring the fire station, the morning served as a reminder that the relationship between a fire department and its community extends well beyond emergency calls.

Needham said the goal is ultimately for the community to see that the department exists to serve the entire community.

“It’s really cool to see all of them come out here for breakfast or brunch and that they just see that what we do is for the community, not just for us,” Needham said. “It’s for everyone else.”

And, according to Johnson, there may be one more reason the event keeps drawing people back.

“Rumor has it that we have the best pancakes out of all of the area departments,” she said.

Volunteers preparing food in a community kitchen, with several people seated at tables in the background.

A police officer in uniform speaks to a young boy with a bandaged head, while an adult man stands nearby, both looking engaged in the conversation. In the background, there are construction cones and a staircase.

Two children inside a fire truck, one sitting on a seat and the other standing near the controls.

Two children posing with a character in a large dog costume inside a fire station, with red garage doors in the background.