LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – The 74th annual Lubbock Lions Club Pancake Festival returned Valentine\u2019s Day, drawing the community together for a meal that consumed 6,000 pounds of pancake mix, 72,000 sausage links, 240 gallons of coffee and more.<\/p>\n
\u201cApparently people like pancakes on Valentine\u2019s Day and we are really happy about that,\u201d said Brent Guinn, Lions Club member and event co-chair.<\/p>\n
The festival raises money to support more than 30 local organizations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe help other groups but we generally look at children and vision as our first priority. We typically give away way over $100,000 out of this event to local charities to be utilized by individuals here in Lubbock,\u201d Guinn said.<\/p>\n
Community tradition continues<\/p>\n
The event normally serves 12,000 to 14,000 people each year, with more than $1.9 million raised from ticket sales and donated to local causes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a tradition we come here every year,\u201d one attendee said.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnlimited pancakes, that\u2019s it, yeah the pancakes,\u201d another said.<\/p>\n
Visitors encourage everyone to come out and try the food.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would tell them that it\u2019s an amazing place,\u201d one attendee said, \u201cthat you have to come here, they have good pancakes and sausage.\u201d<\/p>\n
On-going support <\/p>\n
Guinn and co-chair Debra Perry said the event depends on community support and volunteers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout Lubbock community coming and supporting this event, buying tickets to volunteering, helping us out, this event would not happen,\u201d Guinn said.<\/p>\n
Perry added: \u201cWe all have a part in taking care of Lubbock, we volunteer, we eat or whatever, but look at this, you can\u2019t say this isn\u2019t fun.\u201d<\/p>\n