IRONTON — Santa Claus and his taste for pancakes are coming to town a little early this year, thanks to the Ironton Kiwanis Club.

The civic organization will host its annual “Breakfast with Santa” On Saturday, Dec. 1 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Ironton AEP Building located at 525 S. Third St.

A $5 per person donation gets you Brian’s famous pancakes, sausage, juice, milk, and a picture with jolly St. Nick. Children 2 and under eat free.

“This is our annual fund raising project and the major reason we like it is that it gives us an opportunity to interact with the community and give them something tangible and memorable with the picture they receive of their child or children with Santa,” said Steve Call, current Kiwanis president.

The Kiwanis Mission is “Serving the Children of the World, One Child at a Time.” Kiwanis International is a global organization of volunteers’ dedicated helping one child at a time.

“All proceeds of the Ironton Kiwanis Club fundraising projects are spent locally,” Call said. “Even though Kiwanis International has a world-wide focus we believe that there are plenty of people in our community that need help hence our local focus.”

Call said the approach is to apply one of the Kiwanis principles of helping one child at time but instead of shipping dollars and donations overseas to support local youth projects and events.

These projects include donating diapers and personal hygiene kits that are distributed through the county health department and partnering with other local organizations to get backpacks and school supplies passed out in schools. Proceeds are also used to fund our Ironton Kiwanis annual Greater Lawrence County High School Scholarship Awards.

The Ironton club meets Thursday at noon in the lobby of the Ironton City building. Call said the public is invited to stop in for lunch and discover what the club is all about.