The Valley Community Pantry (VCP) held its first pancake breakfast of 2020 this past Saturday, January 27 at Applebee’s on Florida Avenue.

Liz Dubruille, Vice President of VCP was amazed at the turnout. “We try to hold this particular fundraiser two or three times a year: I feel like this event filled up very quickly and we had a turnover of patrons two or three times.”

Our Valley always comes together to help others in need, and Terry Larned of Hemet American Legion Post 53 is a great example.  “I think this a fantastic opportunity for the community to come out and stand behind Jim and the Valley Community Pantry, said the veteran.

Jim Lineberger, Executive Director/CEO of VCP , “In America, everybody deserves to eat: our particular constituency comes from three main groups: the elderly, our veterans, which are sometimes one-and-the-same, and single mothers. Of course, we will feed anyone who is hungry, but the overwhelming majority of our clients, some 97, 98 percent, come from those three groups. This event gets better and better every time, because we have more than 70 volunteers who help make it better and better,” said Lineberger, adding, “We saw lots of new faces, which is always encouraging.  Our next pancake event will be held on June.”

Lineberger also reminded patrons that this year will be a very special year for VCP as they will be celebrating 55 years of service and commitment to our valley.  “We will be holding open house on February 21 to celebrate this milestone,” said, Lineberger, urging all to come out in support and celebration.

The event raised close $1,100-an amazing amount for an event such as this.  Leonard Gleason, President of VCP thanked everyone who came out and urged all to come out to the 55th anniversary celebration.

Applebee’s has always been a friend of our valley, hosting many of these fund-raising breakfasts as a catalyst for moving the community forward. Leonard Gleason, VCP President said, “Three, four times a year, Valley Community Pantry holds a pancake breakfast that’s hosted by Applebee’s to support the Pantry functions. Every dollar counts! Applebee’s always does a fine job. This is a very important event, especially for me: coming into the holidays, we have a lot of people in need. This event will help us with funding to make sure that we feed as many people as possible.” 

Anyone interested in volunteering or donating to the VCP may do so at: https://www.vcpcares.org or stopping by the office at 191 Columbia Street, Hemet or by calling (951) 929-1101

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RAMONA BOWL KICKS OFF RAMONA BOWL PAGEANT FUNDRAISING BREAKFAST

Within the confines of the beautiful Golden Era Golf Course Clubhouse, with Nat King Cole‘s version of the “Christmas Song” soothing diners in the background and Santa and Mrs. Clause (Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Robinson) sitting there with a beautiful tree ringed with Christmas presents, the Ramona Bowl kicked off its fundraising and unofficial “Ramona bowl season” with its annual fundraising pancake breakfast.

“This is our way of getting started, not only with Christmas season, but with “Ramona” season, because this gets us all back together.  We all start thinking “Ramona.”  This kicks off our getting together, then in January we have sign-ups, and that’s quickly followed by the “President’s dinner“ where we announce our cast for the Ramona pageant, so this just gets us going,” said Past Ramona Bowl President Lori Van Arsdale.

The setting could not have been more picturesque nor the weather more compliant. There was just enough of a chill in the air to remind you that Christmas was not far away. Chestnuts roasted on an open fire, thanks to Nat King Cole as Downtown Deli owner Steve Covington flipped pancakes and fried up sausage.  Century 21 realtor Norm Kyriss served up plate after plate of delicious breakfasts to crowds which came and went many times over. “This is our favorite time of year,” said Kyriss.

The Ramona Bowl pancake breakfast is now in its 11th year and its originator and former San Jacinto City Council member Steve DiMemmo recalled how it all started. “I was sitting on the San Jacinto Council and also sitting on the Ramona Bowl Board and we were having some…financial issues, and so I just suggested that we try a pancake breakfast to see if we could possibly raise some money for the Bowl. It was an outstanding success and it’s been going since, I believe, 2008.”

DiMemmo notes that the success of the breakfast is its ability to raise not just dollars, but awareness.

“I agree with Lori. Now is the time that we start to focus on the bowl itself: we have the Hemet Christmas Parade the day before, then comes our pancake breakfast, usually the next day. It’s at this time that members of the committee start contributing to the bowl…members realize that it’s that time of year.  In years past, we’ve had members who donated bicycles for the kids, Christmas presents etcetera. The Soboba has always been very very good to us, as has been Agri-Empire and other businesses. It’s a good thing. We just want people to come in, meet-and-greet and get to know our activities. The people who are new to the community come in… and they learn about the Bowl from this event,” said DiMemmo.

The breakfast, and the Ramona Bowl and pageant reach far beyond our valley as DiMemmo, other board members and others associated with the bowl, fully realize. “For this valley, this is very historic. It’s very important and it needs to continue. It’s been here since 1923! Ultimately this is a boon for the entire valley and even beyond. This was the “go to “place for everybody. Even the Redlands Bowl used ours as the kick off. This was the mother of all Bowls. It’s historic and the acoustics at the Bowl are fabulous.” And Board Members love the Golden Era facility said DiMemmo. “Golden Era is a huge contributor to this valley. This is a beautiful venue. They help many many people: they have a golf program and many other programs they offer.

They donate their facilities all the time to all non-profits. And they are a very good partner for this community,” said DiMemmo.

It’s historic and the acoustics at the Bowl are fabulous.” And Board Members love the Golden Era facility said DiMemmo. “Golden Era is a huge contributor to this valley. This is a beautiful venue. They help many many people: they have a golf program and many other programs they offer. They donate their facilities all the time to all non-profits. And they are a very good partner for this community,” said DiMemmo.

For those who would like to donate or who are interested in the Ramona bowl or it’s historic pageant, please list the bowl online at https://ramonabowl.com/amphitheatre/

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