Annual pancake fundraiser raises money to rebuild Honey Run Covered Bridge

The Honey Run Covered Bridge Association still needs $2.2 million to rebuild the bridge.

PARADISE, Calif. - People packed Honey Run Bridge Park in Paradise for the 58th annual pancake fundraiser to raise money to rebuild the Honey Run Covered Bridge this Sunday.

The smell of pancakes and sausages greeted people as they lined up for breakfast. The Honey Run Covered Bridge Association said the money from the event will go toward rebuilding the bridge, as well as park maintenance.

"First of all, it's an opportunity for citizens to support the rebuild of the covered bridge and we’re coming up on the fifth anniversary of the Camp Fire and it's been a real tragedy," HRCBA president, Walt Schafer, said.

Schafer said that the pancake fundraiser is a manifestation of outpouring support to rebuild the bridge.

People gather at the Honey Run Bridge Park for the annual pancake fundraiser Sunday morning to help raise money to rebuild the Honey Run Covered Bridge. By: Margot Rowe

Around 40 volunteers from Sierra North Valley REALTORS helped out at the fundraiser.

"We have people cooking, people refilling syrup and butter, people serving food, a drink station and and then help us with set-up and clean-up too," Sierra North Valley REALTOR volunteer, Amy Campbell, said.

The HRCBA has been fundraising to rebuild for a few years and has requested a loan from the Butte County Board of Supervisors earlier this year. However, the loan was not approved.

The association is still waiting to receive funding from the Fire Victim's Trust settlement.

While people were happy with the event, one woman said she was bummed the event couldn't be more celebratory.

"We have an incredible community that really loves and cherishes this bridge, so I’m not at all surprised that there's a fantastic turnout, this is always a fun event," Butte Canyon resident, Cary Lowe, said. "But I was really hoping that today's event would be ‘Hey, we got all this funding to rebuild."

The HRCBA still needs about $2.2 million for the bridge project. The association filed for over $3 million for the Fire Trust Victim settlement and is currently in phase two of the rebuilding of the bridge.

Weekend assignment desk editor and web producer