By Kathy L. Collins
If you are a pancake lover and want to help two great local non-profit organizations, then plan on attending the 3rd Annual Pancake Breakfast sponsored by IHOP at 1270 E. Brandon Blvd. in Brandon and First Baptist Church of Brandon on Saturday, April 27 from 8 to 11:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Brandon located at 216 N. Parsons Ave. in Brandon. All funds raised benefit New Horizons Group Home and ECHO (Emergency Care Help Organization). Tickets are $5.
For $5, you get a complete pancake breakfast. Stacey Efaw, Executive Director of ECHO said, “This is a fun and inexpensive way to give back to two local organizations.” All of the money raised is split equally between ECHO and New Horizons Group Home. “Thanks to the generosity of IHOP and First Baptist Church of Brandon, there will be minimal expenses, so most of the money raised goes to the two non-profits,” added Efaw.
Peter Watkins, President of the Board of Directors for New Horizons Group Home said, “The pancake breakfast is an opportunity for the community to enjoy a good breakfast, music and learn more about what New Horizons and ECHO are all about.” Brenda Watkins added, “We will have our famous ornaments for sale at the breakfast.”
New Horizons Group Home consists of two homes. The Alice Storms Home houses six mentally disabled men, and the Mary Lou Creamer House is home to six mentally disabled women. Both homes are licensed through the Agency for Health Care Administration as assisted living facilities. Residents are required to be able to care of their own personal needs, contribute to housekeeping and work in the community. The residents in the homes enjoy the family atmosphere.
ECHO (Emergency Care Help Organization) is an emergency food and clothing pantry, who for the last 25 years, has been serving residents of the greater Brandon area who have suffered a recent emergency. Each year ECHO serves over 10,000 area residents, half of whom are children, with basic food and clothing.
ECHO and New Horizons Group Home have been great partners for many years. Residents of the home volunteer and work at ECHO on a weekly basis.
For more information, please visit www.newhorizonshomes.org or call 571-0064. For more information on ECHO, please visit www.echofl.org or call 685-0935. You can get tickets to the Pancake Breakfast from either organization.
