As the Kalispell Senior Center continues its outreach to some of the harder-to-reach senior citizens in the area, events such as last Saturday’s pancake breakfast increase enrollment numbers and interest.

More than 50 seniors came through the doors for the $5 breakfast just in the first hour. They chatted while enjoying fluffy pancakes prepared by grill master —and volunteer extraordinaire—  Russ Penne.

Gaydyn Wood, the Kalispell Senior Center’s activities chairwoman, said the success of the event underscored a happy trend for the center.

“I want to acknowledge all the men that are here,” she said. “There used to only be a few, and now that number is growing. I think they are seeing that other men are here and they want to come.”

Male membership has grown in spades in recent months, Wood said.

Nearly everything was donated to the center for the breakfast by North Bay Grille, Sykes’ Market, Rosauers, Albertsons and Hedstrom egg farm.

With the antics of Dick Reedquist, Rosainne Taylor and Penne in the kitchen along with smiles on the well-fed faces, the volunteers at the event called it a rousing success.

The Kalispell Senior Center is located at 403 Second Ave. W. in downtown Kalispell.