MASSENA -- The Massena Rotary Club on March 21 will serve its 55th pancake breakfast to an anticipated 1,600 people. Tickets are on sale now.

For the second year, the club is offering free shuttles from the Massena Central High School to the junior high. Breakfast goers can park at the high school and ride a free bus shuttle right to the front door of the junior high and back. Last year was the first time the club offered the shuttle, eliminating parking congestion around the junior high, especially at peak times.

The silent auction led by Phil and Jackie Sheehan and Darcy Sharpe will return. Hundreds of items donated by local merchants and artisans will be on display in the junior high gym. The proceeds will go toward local charities.

The pancake day is the biggest fundraiser for the Massena Rotary Club, who last year contributed over $30,000 to local organizations, the club said.

“Pancake breakfast is a well-oiled machine. It’s all hands on deck - and then some - to make this annual event work. Everyone involved with our Rotary Club volunteers side-by-side with students from Massena Central’s sports teams and clubs which are a huge and valuable resource helping out as a community service,” Rotary Club president Scott Manley said in a prepared statement. “There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes preparing breakfast for approximately 1,600 children and adults. Chairperson Jim Venier has had his hands full coordinating and leading our team, ordering food in huge quantities, decanting 60 gallons of locally produced maple syrup, setting up and cleaning up for the event as well as getting tickets pre-sold out in the community.”

The breakfast will be served from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 12. Kids age 5 and under eat free.

Pre-sale tickets are $1 off. They are available from any Rotarian or from various outlets throughout Massena.