Something delicious is cooking at tSomething delicious is cooking at the Riverton Community Church of the Nazarene — and it’s all for a good cause.
To Pam Shumey, community is at the heart of the church’s vision. She and fellow members host biweekly pancake breakfast fundraisers to support their annual Christmas hamper program.
To date, they’ve raised more than $5,000 thanks to the community’s overwhelming generosity, and they’re once again inviting everyone to pull up a chair for breakfast.
“I’m going to say hallelujah for us raising that amount because it’s simply amazing,” said Shumey. “It shows that we as a church community can rise up and meet the needs of the community whenever and wherever the need is greatest.”
The next breakfast takes place Monday, Oct. 20, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the church, 25 Main St. in Riverton. For $10, visitors can enjoy three freshly made pancakes, three sizzling sausages and a cup of coffee.
Shumey has been hosting the biweekly breakfasts for more than a decade and says she’s proud of what the group has accomplished together.
This December, volunteers will prepare 12 food hampers valued at about $150 each — enough to provide families with Christmas and Boxing Day dinners.
“We want to make sure as many people as possible can enjoy the holidays with their families without worrying about whether they can afford a special dinner,” Shumey said. “The hampers are 100 per cent possible because of the fundraising we do, and I invite everyone from far and wide to join us for a tasty breakfast every second Monday.”
Three pancake breakfasts remain this year: Oct. 20, Nov. 3 and Nov. 17. After that, volunteers will take a break from flipping pancakes in December to focus on preparing the hampers.
Information about the next round of breakfasts will be posted on the church’s bulletin board when they return in 2026.
Church members are also preparing for their annual Chili, Bake and Rummage Sale on Friday, Nov. 21. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., visitors can enjoy a warm bowl of chili, grab a grilled hot dog, or try a chili dog for the best of both worlds. A variety of baked goods will also be available, with all proceeds going toward the Christmas hamper program.
Outside of fundraising, the church’s ongoing goal is to bring people together. One way they do this is through community potlucks held every second month. Their most recent celebration, on Oct. 4, drew about 50 people who each brought a dish to share. The next potluck is set for December.
“It can get pretty hectic around here, and I’m not quite sure how we manage to do it,” Shumey said with a laugh. “But at the end of the day, we get it done and are able to give back to those who need it.”
