Not your usual pancake breakfast planned for April 13- Event hosted by Teen Mission for the benefit of other young people

Monroe - The Teen Mission’s third annual pancake breakfast will be held Sunday, April 13, from 7 a.m. to noon at the American Legion Post on Lakes Road in Monroe. This event is sponsored by Teen Mission, a community service and leadership development program. The group is open to all middle and high school students and their motto is: “For Teens by Teens. “What makes this breakfast so special is that teenagers from Monroe-Woodbury are doing all the planning, implementing and even cleaning-up for this event and they are doing it for the benefit of their peers,” said Rosann Ruggiero, the advisor for group. Juliana Reeling, a senior at Monroe-Woodbury High School as well as the president of the Teen Mission High School Group, noted that the previous breakfasts “have been nothing short of excellent. It is honestly incredible how we are able to successfully serve hundreds of people in a single morning, most of us with no culinary or waitressing experience.” The proceeds from the breakfast will be used toward the Teen Mission annual leadership conference on April 6 at Monroe-Woodbury High School. This all-day conference, which drew 150 teens last year, is free and open to all Monroe-Woodbrury Middle School students. This year’s theme is “coping with stress.” There will be speakers, workshops, a dance with a DJ and food provided through the generosity of local merchants. Teen Mission was founded ten years ago by Ruggiero and her son, Nicolas, after the shootings at Columbine High School. They worked with Jewish Family Service to create an organization for middle and high school youth that would provide opportunities to give teens a voice in the community. Members of Teen Mission educate their peers through the annual conference and give of themselves through community service projects and summer internships. Teen Mission has hosted events to benefit the Emergency Housing Group, the Youth Shelter, Safe Homes, Project Life and many other organizations serving people in need. Teen Mission is sponsored by Jewish Family Services, with funding from the state Office for Children and Family Services through the Orange County Youth Bureau and the United Way. Tickets are $5.50 for adults; $5 for seniors and children; free for those under 3. They can be purchased at the GNC store, 400 Route 17M in Monroe or by calling Rosann Ruggiero at 845-224-5277.