Trinity Episcopal Church youth group members make pancakes for the Shrove Tuesday celebration on March 5. Courtesy photo

SHEPHERDSTOWN – Community members and Trinity Episcopal Church congregants gathered in the church’s fellowship hall on March 5, commemorating the last day before the beginning of Lent.

The annual pancake supper was also a fundraiser for the church’s youth group, who kept busy making fresh pancakes throughout the two-hour long event.

“I’ve been here for 30 years, and come to this pancake supper every year,” said Mark Dorosh, of Shepherdstown, who said he usually doesn’t fast for the entire length of Lent, keeping a family tradition from his childhood. “My dad was Russian Orthodox, so we would always commemorate Lent in the church tradition, to fast the day before Easter.”

According to Mark’s wife, Elaine Dorosh, while the supper does not signal the beginning of a fasting period for her family, it’s a good opportunity for community members to support local youth.

“When my daughter became old enough to be part of the youth group, we began to help,” Elaine said of her family’s involvement with the youth group. “This year, we bought 12 boxes of pancake mix, and six containers of maple syrup and about six containers of applesauce and I couldn’t even tell you how much sausage we have.

Left to right, Mark Dorosh waits for his plate to be filled by Trinity Episcopal Church youth group leader Kirsten Grimm, as fellow youth group leader John Bryant refills the pancake pan with freshly-made pancakes. Tabitha Johnston

“We are trying to raise money, but it’s more about the church and getting everyone together and getting the kids involved in something. Some people celebrate by getting drunk, we celebrate by eating pancakes,” Elaine said with a laugh.

According to youth group leader of 15 years Kirsten Grimm, the pancake supper tends to have a similar turnout every year, and this year’s event didn’t disappoint.

“We anticipated about 100, but this isn’t our biggest event,” Grimm said, mentioning the cookie walk in December is the youth group’s big fundraiser every year.

Focusing on creating a relaxing event for people to gather in, is more important than making it into a profit-driven event.

“It provides a lot of intergenerational fellowship and sense of community in the church, while also providing a fundraiser agent for the children in the youth group,” Grimm said, mentioning the funds raised will go towards the youth group’s summer camp and other activities.

And, as the evening went on, the youth group and its leaders kept busy at work in the kitchen, as community members lined up for refills on sausage, pancakes, apple sauce and beverages.