The Garland Kiwanis Club and the Garland Citizens Fire Academy Alumni organization joined forces to host the 22nd Pancakes with Santa event Saturday, Dec. 10. An estimated 700 people stopped by the Central Fire Station of the Garland Fire Department to take photos with Santa and participate in fun activities and enjoy all you can eat pancakes.
The Garland Kiwanis Club members participate in numerous and varied community projects throughout the year. Kiwanis International is a global organization of members dedicated to serving the children of the world. Kiwanis and its family of clubs—nearly 600,000 members strong—annually raise more than $100 million and dedicate more than 18 million volunteer hours to strengthen communities and serve children.
According to their website, the “Six Permanent Objects of Kiwanis International” are:
- To give primacy to the human and spiritual rather than to the material values of life.
- To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.
- To promote the adoption and the application of higher social, business and professional standards.
- To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive and serviceable citiz
enship. - To provide, through Kiwanis clubs, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service and to build better communities.
- To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism and goodwill.
The Citizen’s Fire Academy, a program offered by the Garland Fire Department, helps promote an understanding of the fire department’s mission, responsibilities and activities by hosting classes for citizens. In these classes, participants engage in hands-on activities and demonstrations as welas class time instruction. It is open to anyone over the age of eighteen who lives or works in the City of Garland. Applications are accepted in order received. Class size is limited and once the spring class is filled, remaining applications will be held for the class.
The Citizens Fire Club is an organization made up of alumni of the Citizens Fire Academy. The group helps GFD in various ways. They hold fundraisers, manage CERT training and award college scholarships. Members also work with the fire department on special projects.
Additionally, the club has a REHAB team that goes out on two-alarm and larger fires to help rehab firefighters and provide any other assistance they need.