Chuck Reynolds, an organizer of the Hollister United Methodist Church’s pancake breakfast, on Friday said volunteers were hoping Saturday would bring in a bigger crowd for the annual event that coincides with the rally.
“So far it’s been good,” Reynolds said, at 10:30 a.m. on Friday morning. “It’s the first year we’ve had (the rally) so it’s been a little slower.”
He predicted they would serve about 300 people by the end of the morning.
Reynolds said due to the way the rally was scheduled this year on a Friday and Saturday, he anticipated there would be more visitors to come in on Saturday morning. Still, there was a good amount of business Friday.
“They are all coming in today,” he said.
With about two dozen people enjoying breakfast at mid-morning, Reynolds said his crew was doing a good job of keeping the warm food coming out for diners. Volunteers worked in the cooking, flipping pancakes and cooking up other hot breakfast foods, while others served plates of food and coffee to guests. Others walked around the church hall and offered up raffle tickets.
Reynolds said his only concern about Saturday is that he had more volunteers than he needed for the Friday crew so some might think they don’t need to show up.
Earl Bernal, a resident of San Jose, enjoyed the breakfast with two cohorts. He said he had come to the pancake breakfast in past years when the rally was held. He said he found out about the breakfast this year because it was on the rally’s website.
“They had it listed as part of the event,” Bernal said.
The pancake breakfast has been happening for 15 years, started by now-retired Rev. Ardyss Golden.
“It helps our church,” Reynolds said in the week before the rally. “It is a slow time in the summer – people go on vacations, but our expenses continue. It has always helped us get through the rough months.”
