Cub Scouts, First United Presbyterian host pancake dinner for Shrove Tuesday

The Rev. Phil Beck is looking for a few hungry people to eat roughly a few hundred pancakes, all for free.

His church, First United Presbyterian in Tarentum, is hosting a pancake dinner to celebrate Shrove Tuesday, the night before the start of Lent.

It is co-hosted by Cub Scout Pack 186.

The community celebration will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the church social hall, 913 Lock St.

“At the church, we have always thought community was important,” Beck said. “Community is important for the Cub Scouts as well. We thought that this was a natural fit and is a great way to bring people together.”

Shrove Tuesday is traditionally observed by Christians with confession, devising a Lenten sacrifice and grubbing on pancakes, sweets and pastries ahead of the 40 days of Lent.

Cubmaster Dan Dobies said he was thrilled to get involved because serving the community is a core value instilled in Cub Scouts.

“They should learn at a young age to give of themselves and help when asked in any way they can,” Dobies said. “We can do that by hosting this pancake dinner, or like we do every Memorial Day by teaming up with local cemeteries to plant flags on the gravesites of our community’s service members who have passed.”

Cub Scout Pack 186 is based in Natrona Heights with Guardian Angels Parish as its sponsor.

Dobies has about 30 children on his roster who come from Highlands, New Ken-Arnold, Kiski and Deer Lakes. They meet at OLPH social hall during the school year and at Harrison Hills during the summer.

“Our members get to go on campouts and hikes, race pinewood derby cars and receive awards for their achievements, but at the end of the day, we want them to understand that it isn’t always about them,” Dobies said.

Cub Scouts solicited donations from Beck’s church, Smithfield Foods in Arnold and McDonald’s in Harrison to help with the breakfast-style dinner.

Pack members will be busy flipping flapjacks in the kitchen that adjoins a spacious hall in the church basement. Several adults will oversee the young volunteers who will plate the meals and serve on cleanup duty.

“It’s a win, win, win,” Beck said. “It’s such a good way to get together before the season of Lent begins.”

Dobies agreed, saying the event is a great team-building opportunity.

“I’m sure they’re excited for the chance to help out and make the event a team effort with their fellow scouts,” he said. “But let’s be real here, they are probably most excited about the pancakes.”