Parkland Football Booster Club Flapjack Breakfast Packs The House

Saturday's first-time fundraiser at Cedar Crest Blvd. Applebee's was a huge success.

By Megan
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January 24, 2011

Parkland High School junior Junior Anthony Campanell makes his way through the busy kitchen with his hands full. For $8, customers could order unlimited pancakes, which kept the boys busy. Megan Kutulis

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Parkland High School junior Junior Anthony Campanell makes his way through the busy kitchen with his hands full. For $8, customers could order unlimited pancakes, which kept the boys busy.

Credit Megan Kutulis

Although the front of the restaurant was full of hungry Parkland football fans, the kitchen was where the action was. Applebee’s chefs kept busy on the griddle, while players poured drinks and placed orders.

Credit Megan Kutulis

From left, Dave, Jordan and Lauren Balliet braved the cold to come out and support Parkland’s freshman, junior varsity and varsity football teams on Saturday. The proceeds from their morning meals were used toward gifts for the senior players, as well as new equipment and other expenses.

Credit Megan Kutulis

The Parkland High School Football Booster Club held its first pancake fundraiser Jan. 22 at Applebee’s on Cedar Crest Blvd. In South Whitehall Township. Fifty people originally signed up to attend, but organizers found a long lines. “I think we will probably host the event again, but we’ll probably need to reorganize it because we’ve had a greater turnout than we expected,” said booster club member Lori Fuehrer.

Credit Megan Kutulis

From left, Megan Reibman and her mother, Kelly, beat the crowds that turned out for Saturday’s fundraiser and were able to grab a seat and some breakfast before things got busy.

Credit Megan Kutulis

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There might not be too many high school students that would be excited about the idea of an early morning wake-up call, especially on the weekend.

But judging from the turnout for a Parkland Football Booster Club event Jan. 22, free flapjacks can change their minds. Luckily, there were plenty to go around at the club’s first pancake breakfast fundraiser.

The breakfast was held at Applebee’s on Cedar Crest Boulevard in Allentown, a restaurant that has been a long-time supporter of Parkland’s athletic teams. The restaurant has also hosted fundraisers for the high school’s French club, which recently held a breakfast to raise money for a school in Haiti.

Although the event was not open to the public, each booth and table was full of Parkland fans and families eager to take advantage of the all-you-can-eat breakfast.

For only eight dollars, each customer was entitled to a limitless supply of pancakes and sausage. All orders were taken and served by members of one of Parkland’s three football teams: freshmen, junior varsity or varsity.

The front of the restaurant remained crowded throughout most of the morning with hungry customers eager to take advantage of bottomless breakfast, but the kitchen was undoubtedly the busiest area. As Applebee’s cooks manned the griddle, players crowded around the soda fountain re-filling drink orders and dishing out condiments.

All of the proceeds go to the Parkland Football Booster Club. While most of it will cover the costs of equipment and other necessities, some funds will also go towards gifts that honor the team’s longest members.

“Some of the money raised today goes to end-of-the-year gifts our seniors, many of whom have been in the program for six years,” said Booster Club parent Lori Fuehrer.

It may have only been the first time the team hosted a breakfast, but it likely will not be the last, considering its overwhelming success.

“I think we’ll probably host the event again, but we’ll probably need to reorganize it,” said Fuehrer. “We’ve had a much greater turnout than we expected; there were only 50 people who had signed up to come.”

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