Waukee Firefighters to Host Pancake Breakfast & Food Drive Saturday

The Waukee Firefighter Association will host a pancake breakfast and food drive this weekend to kick off Fire Prevention Week.

The bi-annual event takes place Saturday morning, Oct. 6 from 7-11 a.m. at the Waukee Fire Station.

Tomme Tysdal, president of the Waukee Fire Association and a firefighter with the Waukee Fire Department, said the fundraising event provides money for the fire department to upgrade equipment and its facilities, as well as provide training for the firefighters.

"We raise money for things that go above and beyond the funds we get from the city budget," Tysdal said about the event earlier this year. "Every penny we bring in goes right back into the department."

In addition to breakfast, Tysdal said there will be activities for kids of all ages. Fire truck rides, demonstrations, a bounce house, kid’s tattoos, and coloring are just a few of the activities planned at Saturday's event. 

"The breakfast will also give us a chance to show our citizens what all the fire department has to offer," said Tysdal.

The Waukee Fire Association is also teaming up with the Waukee Area Christian Food Pantry again to host a food drive. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, the drive will help kick-start the Food Pantry's, “Share Your Feast” collection, a program that distributes Thanksgiving food boxes to those in need around the holiday.  

"Our goal is to collect as many non-perishables as we can in four short hours," Tysdal said.

Some of the most needed items include: boxed stuffing, boxed potatoes, cream of mushroom soup, french fried onions, saltine crackers, cranberry sauce, canned gravy, corn muffin mix, pumpkin pie filling, boxed pie crust, evaporated milk, relishes, Jell-O and canned fruit. All other non-perishables will be collected as well.

The Waukee Fire Association Pancake Breakfast and Food Drive will take place Saturday morning from 7-11 a.m. at the Waukee Fire Station, 1300 S.E. LA Grant Pkwy. Cost to attend is $5 for ages 5 and up. Children 4 and under are free.