By CONNOR HOLMES, “mailto:cholmes@breezenewspapers.com”>cholmes@breezenewspapers.com

What better way to serve citizens in the community over Easter weekend than with pancakes? The only logical answer to that question is, by serving them free pancakes.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did just that Saturday during its second annual Easter celebration free pancake breakfast and egg hunt.

The breakfast event took place from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the church at 1928 Chiquita Boulevard S., and featured such well-loved morning food items as scrambled eggs, ham and of course, pancakes.

“The pancakes are good,” said Charlie Cole, a life-long member of the church. “I’ve had two so far.“

Cole has lived in Cape Coral for about eight years and has attended church at the Chiquita building since it was built nearly four years ago. Before that, he attended where he lived previously in Arizona and then in Fort Myers after moving to the area.

Cole came to eat pancakes and enjoy the company of fellow breakfast-goers with his wife and three daughters, ages 9, 10 and 12.

But besides the obvious alure of pancakes and good-cheer, the church also put on a number of outdoor events for children, including face-painting, three-legged races, games and a good old fashioned Easter egg hunt.

“I’ve been running around like a chicken with my head cut off, but I’m glad to see it all paying off,” said 10-year church member and event planner Nicki Lyons, who attended with her husband and 3-year old daughter, Edeyn.

Planning the event was quite an undertaking for Lyons, to include gathering supplies, planning, delegating tasks and “gathering the troops,” she said.

About 20 to 30 members helped out with cooking, serving food, games and the egg hunt, said Lyons. She estimated around 200 church members and other attendees came to enjoy the festivities, she said.

The breakfast event was free to the public and offered the chance to get to know members of both the Cape Coral and Los Palmos churches.

Missionary Elders wandered the event, greeting guests and introducing them to the church and its teachings.

Elder Bryce Phillips, 20, is one such missionary. Baptized at age eight, Phillips helps to spread the word of his church by traveling door to door with his partner, 19-year-old Trinidad native, Elder Francis Gopaul.

“We help people get to know what kinds of things we teach,” said Phillips, boasting the church as, “the best humanitarian aid in the world.“

“It’s fantastic,” said Phillips of the breakfast event Saturday. “There is a huge turnout; the kids look like they’re having a good time.“

Men in the church can become elders at age 18, according to brother Lon Kreger. He said the church is not a payed ministry. The church offers a “self-sufficient welfare system,” in which families in need within the church are taken care of, added brother Richard Newville.

Brother Julian Araiza spoke praises of the church’s bishop, Larry Lions, for his dedication to helping at the church. Lions works a full-time job as well as spending around 40 hours with the church, said Araiza. Lions could not attend the breakfast due to being out of town, said Araiza.