On the morning of Saturday, Dec. 13th, the air in Manhattan was crisp, but inside the bustling community hall, the atmosphere was thick with the sweet aroma of maple syrup and the steady sizzle of hot griddles. The annual Kiwanis Pancake Feed was in full swing, serving as much more than just a breakfast; it was a high-energy display of community spirit and student leadership. For the members of the Manhattan High Key Club, this event is a cornerstone of their service calendar.
While “Key” might sound like a simple name, Club President and junior Gabe Morla points out that it carries a much deeper meaning: Kiwanis Empowering Youth. “The pancake feed is a community gathering event to raise funds for various projects around Manhattan,” Morla said. “People come in, eat, have a good time, and donate money. It was a necessity for us to help them out in this event.”
Managing a crowd of hungry residents requires more than just flipping spatulas—it requires seamless coordination. Junior Michelle Jeje, who serves as both Vice President and Secretary, spent her Saturday acting as the glue for the operation.
She focused on communicating with other members about what needed to be done and stepping in whenever areas became short-staffed. “If something needed attention, I either handled it myself or helped direct people to where they were needed most,” Jeje said.
Despite the rush, she noted that the team didn’t buckle under the pressure. Instead, the high-volume environment brought the club closer together, with members working well together and staying involved to keep the event organized and efficient despite how busy it got.
While the focus was on service, the morning wasn’t without its lighter, more unusual moments. For Jeje, the highlight of the day was an unexpected culinary trend among the guests. “The most memorable moment was definitely when people brought their own peanut butter to eat with their pancakes,” Jeje said. “I had never seen that before, but it was fun to see how excited they were about peanut butter and pancakes.”
This sense of community joy reflected the broader mission of the club. As Vice President, Jeje saw firsthand how the event mirrored Key Club’s commitment to service through direct community interaction and a strong collaboration with the Manhattan Kiwanis—the “adult version” of Key Club. She noted that the partnership was highly supportive, teaching her that strong collaborations are what make service projects truly successful.
For Morla, the “why” behind the early Saturday wake-up call is simple: it is about the personal satisfaction that comes from collective impact and making someone else’s day better. “Key Club allows you to take part in many new experiences and activities that involve learning and providing service,” Morla said.
For him, the event was a personal milestone in a daily commitment to help others. “The most rewarding part after volunteering is knowing that I did my part and helped out. It’s a checkbox in my head that has to be marked every day, and the pancake feed marked today’s,” Morla Said.
As the last plates were cleared and the griddles cooled, the Manhattan community walked away full—not just of pancakes, but of the knowledge that the next generation of local leaders is already hard at work.
