To the Editor:

Kiwanis Club of the Helderbergs is preparing to hold this year’s Maple Festival and Pancake Brunch on Sunday, March 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In addition to serving a hearty meal with pancakes and real maple syrup, eggs, sausage, apple sauce and ice cream for dessert, the festivities will feature vendors, pony rides, a petting zoo and free maps for tours of maple farms, which will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This is the Kiwanis Club’s primary fundraiser to support local programs to benefit children and their families, including:

— “Adopting” a family for the holidays;

— Berne-Knox-Westerlo Back-to-School Supplies, Sneakers, and Backpacks;

— BKW School Meal Supplement Backpacks;

— BKW Student Scholarships;

— Calculator Loan Program for BKW students;

— Food Baskets for 24 families at Thanksgiving and Easter;

— Food Pantry Deliveries from a major grocery chain;

— Food Pantry supplemental items including toiletries and personal-care items;

— Hilltowns Memorial Day Parade;

— Little League Team Sponsorship;

— Roadside clean-up of Route 156 and community flower gardens at the Route 156/157 intersection and the BKW School;

— Sponsored Youth Programs with BKW Key Club, Bring Up Grades (BUG) Program and an Anti-Bullying program; and

— Support for the Jean Forti 5K Run for Education.

We hope you will join us in support of this effort and we look forward to another successful year of serving the children and families in our community.  Thank you.

Amy Lauterbach Pokorny

Maple Festival Chairwoman

Kiwanis Club of the Helderbergs