LAKETOWN TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The Graafschap Fire Department (GFD) held its annual Fourth of July pancake breakfast on Thursday morning, drawing a large crowd to the event on 60th Street.
Firefighters and their family members were busy flipping pancakes and serving beverages to hundreds of attendees, according to township officials. The event also featured fire trucks on display and booths providing fire safety education and other information.
The annual breakfast serves as a gesture of gratitude to the public for their trust and support, particularly in passing millages that fund the department’s operations. Donations collected during the event are set to benefit several organizations, including Girls on the Run, Great Lakes Burn Camp, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, and the Marine Corps Toys for Tots, Laketown Township officials reported.
The tradition of the pancake breakfast dates back to 1968 when the Graafschap Civic Club initiated it to raise funds for a baseball field. The GFD has taken over organizing the event since 1991. Last year’s breakfast saw an attendance of over 1,200 people and raised approximately $7,200.