New Iberians know Thanksgiving is just around the corner when the leaves fall, sweaters appear and the traditional smell of pancakes on the griddle brings hundreds to New Iberia City Park for an evening meal with family, friends and neighbors.

For more than half a century the annual Kiwanis Pancake Supper has let local residents know fall has arrived and it is time for giving thanks. This is the 52nd year for the organization’s fundraising event, an event which has come to mean so many different things to so many people.

 “I’ve been coming for more than 25 years,” said Artie Fontane, seated beside her mother, Edna Schwab.

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“It’s about tradition. We used to come with my children and my father.”

Fontane said since her children have grown and moved away and her father’s recent death, it’s only the two of them.

“We’re all that’s left,” Fontane said. “We’re the family in the family tradition now.”

Preparing for the evening event began early in the day. Kiwanis members began cooking sausage at 6:30 a.m. and mixing pancake batter a half-hour later, said Jimmy Schwing, chairman of the batter mixing crew. The work needed for the successful event is tempered with fun, however, and enjoyed by many of the long-time participants.

Out of the numerous crews performing various functions involving pancake preparation, delivery and service, the mixing crew’s task is the most important, Schwing said jokingly.

“This is the most important there is, because you’ve got to start with a good batter,” he said, before smiling mischievously. “Plus, we have a secret recipe.”

A loyal crewmember nearby shuffled in front of the last few dozen bags of ready-made pancake mix waiting to be prepared. Taking his turn manning the griddle as part of the cooking crew, Philip de Mahy said a lot of work goes on behind the scenes getting everything ready and then hosting the supper.

“We go through over half a ton of pancake mix for this event, over 1,100 pounds in a day,” de Mahy said.

Last year the club sold more than 4,700  dinners and hopefully will do the same or better this year, he said.

Gloria Girouard stood outside delivering bagged dinners as automobile passengers ran up, tickets in hand. She has been a member for 17 years.

“They’ll cook 20,000 pancakes today, and 12,000 sausages,” Girouard said.

Stephanie Comeaux, Kiwanis Club President-elect, is this year’s Pancake Supper Chairwoman. Elected for the upcoming year, she said the supper is one of the welcomed responsibilities of each president before being confirmed. The event is also a tradition for her personally, as it is for so many involved.

“It’s always the week before Thanksgiving, so you know the holidays are coming,” Comeaux said. “I came here when it wasn’t such a big event at all. Now it’s a community unifying event.”

This year the Kiwanis Club members sold 4,903 plates, exceeding last year’s total thanks to Key Club members, volunteers and the participation of the community. More than $20,000 was raised for the numerous programs supported throughout the community.