The Batesville Exchange Club’s (now) semi-annual pancake breakfast will be this Saturday at the Intermediate School cafeteria.

That should get you a good start for the Show-Off on the Square or for any other project you’ve got lined up for Saturday.

And you’ll help this organization raise funds for its primary focus — the prevention of child abuse.

Abuse of children at the hands of those who should be nurturing them is pandemic among us. The stress of our ever-accelerating lifestyles, dysfunctional families, financial pressures, drug and alcohol abuse — somehow the worst of this gets taken out on children.

And even though the abuses of children is widespread in Panola County, few of us really are really aware of the extent of the problem.

The Exchange Club tries to help with that by raising awareness and by raising funds, a portion of which go to the Exchange Club Family Center in Oxford which, in turn, serves Panola families. Recipients of Batesville Exchange Club largesse also include the Boys and Girls Club and other local projects.

(By no means is the Exchange Club the only organization trying to raise awareness of child abuse prevention. The recently organized local chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse — BACA has identified a unique role its members can play in its prevention.

And the Batesville Safe House project initiated this year by Jake Julian to provide a local shelter for abused women makes a provision for their children as well. As Julian put it, what woman is going to leave an abusive situation without her children?)

But with the purchase of a pancake breakfast ticket for Saturday, you can make a small donation to help a big problem. Club members will be serving the usual menu of pancakes and trimmings from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. while creating a unique atmosphere for visiting and fellowship.