On a crisp Saturday morning in Smyrna, the smell of pancakes and coffee drifts through the air as neighbors arrive at First United Methodist Church, exchanging hugs, handshakes, and familiar smiles. For some, it’s a once-a-year tradition. For others, it’s a cherished ritual — a reminder that community still matters.
For the Smyrna Optimist Club, moments like these are at the heart of everything they do.
Founded more than 60 years ago, the Smyrna Optimist Club has remained rooted in a simple but powerful belief: investing in children strengthens the entire community. That focus has never wavered, even as Smyrna has grown and changed.
“We’re really all just trying to leave Smyrna better than the way we found it,” says Tanner Goldsmith, current President of the Smyrna Optimist Club.
That philosophy guides the club’s many initiatives throughout the year. Fundraisers like the Annual Pancake Breakfast and Santa House help generate support for local schools and youth-focused programs, including scholarships, field trips, and initiatives such as Shop with a Hero. Beyond fundraising, members give their time through hands-on volunteer efforts like Read by Grade Three and Adopt-a-Mile — showing up not only with financial support, but with presence and care.
While each program has its own impact, the goal is always the same: to be one part of a much larger village. Tanner explains that the hope is for children touched by the Optimist Club’s work to grow up understanding the value of service — and to carry that spirit forward into their own communities.
That sense of connection is perhaps most visible during the club’s signature Pancake Breakfast. This past November, the Smyrna Optimist Club hosted its 22nd annual event — a longtime tradition that brings neighbors together year after year. While the fundraiser supports many of the club’s efforts, its meaning extends far beyond dollars raised.
“Some families have been coming for more than 20 years,” Tanner shares. In an increasingly digital world, the breakfast offers something increasingly rare — a chance to slow down, sit together, and connect face-to-face.
As the club’s reach expanded, members also began noticing needs that weren’t always addressed through traditional group programs. While much of their work focused on schools, sports teams, and youth organizations, individual children sometimes required medical procedures or equipment not covered by insurance.
That realization led to the creation of the Smyrna Optimist Club Foundation, a separate organization designed to meet those specific needs. Steve Wilson, a longtime member of the club, explains that requests typically come from school counselors or social workers and often involve one-time funding for critical medical care or equipment. The work happens quietly, behind the scenes — but for the families it helps, the impact is profound.
What has allowed the Smyrna Optimist Club to remain strong for decades is a combination of impact and relationships. While some members have served for 50 years or more, others joined more recently — often after moving to Smyrna and searching for a way to connect.
For Tanner, that sense of belonging is just as important as the service itself. Over time, fellow Optimists become friends — neighbors who attend the same churches, live in the same neighborhoods, and show up for one another both inside and outside the club. It’s this shared commitment that keeps members engaged year after year.
As Smyrna looks ahead to a new year, the Optimist Club stands as a reminder that loving a community isn’t just about grand gestures. Sometimes, it’s about showing up consistently, caring deeply, and believing in the next generation.
Because loving Smyrna doesn’t always start with a big idea. Sometimes, it starts with pancakes, conversation, and a group of neighbors who choose — again and again — to make a difference.
Interested in learning more about the Smyrna Optimist Club or getting involved?
Website: www.smyrnaoptimist.org
Facebook: Smyrna Optimist Club
Email: smyrnaoptimist@gmail.com
Pull quote: “We’re really all just trying to leave things better than we found them.”