By IVY BICE
MOUNT AYR, Iowa – The Mount Ayr American Legion has revived its Sunday Community Breakfast, a tradition that originally began approximately 30 years ago. However, the breakfast has taken on a new purpose, with all profits now going toward supporting area youth organizations.
Sunday breakfast at the American Legion originally started as a fundraiser to help cover the monthly costs of maintaining the facility. Kelly Main began volunteering alongside Royce and Judy Dredge, cooking on the first Sunday of each month. After a couple of years, the Dredges retired from volunteering, and Rick Bender, Shirley Wallace and Wendell Wallace joined the crew. Later, Main’s wife, Terri, also joined the group.
A few years ago, the Legion decided to discontinue the Sunday breakfast for multiple reasons, including a lack of volunteers to operate it every Sunday.
Main later suggested that the Legion invite local youth organizations to help with breakfast as a way to raise money for their groups. After a few years, the idea was brought to life with the help of Shirley Wallace, a veteran and officer of the Mount Ayr American Legion Post, who also shared the idea with the Legion.
The Legion agreed to give the program four months to see if it would be successful, allowing the groups to use the facility at no cost.
The Community Breakfast officially began in April of this year, with 100 percent of the profits going to the youth organization volunteering that month. Youth volunteers help with various responsibilities, including bussing tables, carrying out orders, operating the buffet line and preparing pancakes and waffles.
So far this year, participating groups have included the Boy Scouts, Leading Lions 4-H, Mount Ayr Library Kids, Diagonal Archery Team, Mount Ayr Music Boosters and Girl Scouts. Each organization has the opportunity to raise money through its volunteers’ participation, with all profits from that breakfast going directly back to the group.
Since its beginning, the breakfast has provided local youth organizations with an opportunity to raise money while also giving young people a chance to participate in community service.
The program has served an average of 50 to 90 people each month, raising approximately $424 per breakfast. That money goes directly back into the participating youth organizations, helping provide additional financial support for their activities and needs.
According to Main, the initial goal was to provide fundraising opportunities for Ringgold County youth groups while creating opportunities for community service and connection. The response from both the volunteers and customers has been encouraging.
“The youth love volunteering and often say, ‘When can we do this again?'” Main said. “Breakfast customers are enjoying meeting the kids along with visiting over a breakfast.”
Main, who takes pride in cooking and especially enjoys preparing breakfast, also credits the other volunteers and Shirley Wallace’s homemade cinnamon rolls as important parts of making the program successful.
While the breakfast provides an opportunity for community members to gather, its impact reaches beyond the Legion’s dining room. By giving local youth organizations a way to earn money through volunteer work, the program helps support the activities, opportunities and experiences they provide to young people throughout Ringgold County.
An average of $424 raised each month may seem like a small contribution on its own, but that support can make a difference for organizations that depend on fundraising to continue their work. Through the Legion’s program, local youth groups receive both financial assistance and an opportunity to teach young people the importance of volunteering, working together and giving back to their community.
What began as a way to help maintain the Legion has grown into an effort to invest in the next generation of Ringgold County.
