By LESLIE COLLINS
Northeast News
March 20, 2013 

The aroma of fresh pancakes will fill the American Sons of Columbus Hall this Saturday, March 23, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Theall-you-can-eat breakfast catered by Chris Cakes will feature pancakes, sausage, Tang and coffee and serves as a fundraiser for Northeast Neighbor to Neighbor, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that assists Northeast residents with short-term medical needs. Tickets cost $6 and may be purchased the day of the event at American Sons of Columbus Hall, 2415 Independence Ave., Kansas City, Mo.

Founded in 2005 by Dr. Elaine Joslyn, who operates her private practice NEighborhood Family Care on Independence Avenue, Northeast Neighbor to Neighbor has helped more than 40 Northeast residents with their medical needs. Neighbor to Neighbor assists those with no insurance, those with insurance that won’t cover a service they need and those who simply can’t afford a medical service.

“The concept is that the recipient of the services pays back in some way – either helps pay for part of the service or does volunteer work or makes a donation to Neighbor to Neighbor. In some way, they do something,” Joslyn said.

One of the organization’s first recipients was a truck driver who broke his wrist playing football with his grandchildren. The man put on a splint and returned to work, but five weeks later, his wrist still hurt.

“We got an x-ray and it showed he had a fracture of a bone right by the thumb,” she said. “It’s a small but serious fracture.”

That particular bone receives a meager blood supply and if the fractured bone isn’t taken care of properly, the bone can die, resulting in deformity and loss of use in the hand and arm.

Through her contacts, Joslyn secured a discount for surgery and rehabilitation.

“Now, he’s back to driving his truck,” she said.

For more information about Neighbor to Neighbor, visit nnncares.org.