The Voorhees-Gibbsboro Lions Club celebrated a popular community tradition on Dec. 6 with its annual pancake breakfast with Santa, an event that drew nearly 100 attendees.
Families filled the club’s hall in Voorhees for a morning of food, cheer and appearances from Santa and longtime Lions Club member Joe Scioli. The event was missing from 2020 to ’23, when the former club closed, and was revived last year.
For club secretary and founder Mimi Hadi, bringing it back was deeply personal.
“It warms my heart to be able to bring back a tradition that was so loved by the community for so long,” she said. “We received messages on our Facebook page over the last few years from community members asking when we would do the event again.
“I realized how much the event meant to people, and I’m so glad we were able to bring that joy back to them.”
Preparations for the breakfast began three months in advance, with the Lions reaching out to local businesses for sponsorships and gathering items for raffle gift baskets. The turnout was attributed to robust community outreach, including social media advertising and meeting announcements.
Partnerships with the businesses were also vital to the event’s success, according to Hadi.
“Businesses can share the event with their networks,” she explained, “and we publicize those businesses on social media. It’s a win win for everyone and brings awareness to both groups.”
The event also featured a meaningful connection between past and present Lions’ traditions. Scioli – a lifetime club member who played its Santa for many years – returned to help recreate memories for multi-generational families.
“It was like old times having him there,” Hadi noted. “Some families in the South Jersey community had more than one generation experience Joe as their Santa, so it was definitely very memorable having him there.”
For club coordinator Art Olson, the breakfast captured the essence of Lions Club service.
“Serving the community in a fun way is fantastic,” he shared. “Every kid likes pancakes and hot cocoa, right?”
Students from Eastern High School helped set up tables and served breakfast while earning community service hours.
“It gives them an opportunity to serve their community,” stated Jamie Selingo, a Lions Club vice president. “We lead by example.”
The breakfast supports Lions Club service programs such as free vision screenings for grade-school children, health and wellness lectures and partnerships with Cathedral Kitchen and Hope Food Pantry to provide hunger relief.
“This event exemplifies our commitment to community service and connection,” said Sapana Raval, club vice president. “We hope families created wonderful memories and look forward to seeing them at future events.”
To get involved with the Voorhees-Gibbsboro Lions Club, email VoorheesGibbsboroLionsClub@gmail.com.