By MAGGIE MCMURRAY
Moapa Valley Progress
Dozens of elementary-age children and their parents gathered on Tuesday morning, Aug. 15, for a free back-to-school breakfast at the Lake Valley Estates neighborhood in Logandale. The breakfast is an annual event and is put on by neighborhood families to help kids celebrate the start of school.
“We all take our kids on the first day to make sure they find their teachers,” said parent Melissa Estes. “On the second day, however, we meet early near the bus stop, feed all the kids a good breakfast, and then make sure they get on the bus okay and wave goodbye.”
In addition, when kids get home in the afternoon, they can “trick-or-treat” at participating neighborhood houses to collect school supplies and after-school snacks.
The event has been happening for more than ten years. It originally began in 2004 when then-neighborhood resident Tracy Rodgers invited all the mom’s in the neighborhood over for a back-to-school lunch, and then organized “trick-or-treating” for the kids after school. After two years, the food part was moved up in the day and became a breakfast for the kids.
The breakfast originally consisted of donuts and juice but has gotten progressively more elaborate every year. About three years ago John Anderson and his wife Patty Johnson moved into the neighborhood and the spread got even better.
“Patty and John moved into the neighborhood and even though they don’t have kids at home, we invited them to participate,” Estes said. “They threw their whole hearts into it. John’s been doing all the cooking for us for the past three years.”
Anderson loved the idea of a neighborhood breakfast and figured he could do better than donuts for the kids. He started first with pancakes. Then last year, eggs were added to the menu. This year, in addition to pancakes and eggs, John added homemade cinnamon French toast to the menu.
The rest of the neighborhood chipped in as well, adding fruit, bacon, orange juice, milk, and apple juice.
The after-school “trick-or-treating” activity is also on a volunteer basis. “Everyone who wants to participate puts a smiley face on their door,” Johnson said. “The kids know to only knock on the doors of the houses that have smiley faces on them.”
The event is a labor of love for everyone involved. “John truthfully loves kids,” Johnson said. “He loves this activity every year. Activities like this encourage a sense of community and helps the kids get to know everybody.”
Estes agrees it is a great bonding experience. “We think it is a fun tradition and makes great memories for everyone,” she said. “I started participating when my son was in second grade and now he’s a junior in college and still remembers the breakfasts.”
Neighborhood mom Shannel Rowley has been attending every year since moving in about ten years ago. She said she loves to go with her kids. “Patty and John are so sweet and amazing to put this on for the kids every year,” Rowley said. “And Melissa (Estes) goes out of her way to make sure everything is organized and the whole neighborhood is invited and feels welcome.”
Anderson has big plans for upcoming years. This year he threw out the idea of starting a little earlier next year so that middle school kids can also participate. Johnson said, “Every year it gets a little bigger and a little better.”
