Orland Park Veterans Grateful for Help with Pancake Breakfast

Chuck Groff was proud of last year’s event.

The Reber-Tesmond Orland-Palos Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2604 member said the Veterans Pancake Breakfast and Blood Drive accomplished a great deal.

On one hand, Orland Park Boy Scout Troops 318 and 383 were a tremendous help selling tickets, serving food and making sure attendees were taken care of, Groff said.

But the event was more than just a breakfast. Blood was collected from donors, and veterans from the Manteno Veterans Home, as well as veterans staying at the Hines Blind Center, both came to the event.

“Last year we collected 44 pints of blood,” Groff said. “And it was also great to have the veterans from Hines and Manteno with us. It’s important for them to get out from the confines of institutional life and socialize with us and their families.”

On Saturday, VFW Post 264 and the Orland Park Boy Scout troops will again host the Veterans Pancake Breakfast and Blood Drive at the Orland Park Civic Center. Residents at the Manteno and Hines facilities are invited again. Groff said that last year family members of veterans staying at both of the facilities also came out for the breakfast.

Having the veterans join also is a benefit for those working the event.

“We’ve heard from the scout leaders that they are really looking forward to meeting the veterans from Hines and Manteno,” Groff said. “Without the boy scouts, we couldn’t do this. Our membership is on the elderly side and we definitely appreciate the help.”

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