The popular restaurant chain IHOP is flipping for charity. Tuesday marks the restaurants fifth annual National Pancake Day. Patron get a free stack of three buttermilk pancakes until 10 p.m.
Pairing up with this event, as usual, is the Children’s Miracle Network. This is a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising money for children’s hospitals. Each year, they help treat 17 million children with diseases such as: cancer, pediatric AIDS, heart disease and many more. All donations that are raised go to getting Children’s Miracle Network hospital’s new equipment, patient services, research programs and health education.
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This event really dates back a few centuries. Typically, Pancake Day is held on Shrove Tuesday, which is a term associated to English speaking countries and parts of the US, referring to the day after Ash Wednesday and the start of the fasting and prayer season of Lent. This time came to be known as “Pancake Day,” because making and eating such foods was considered to be a sort of last feast before fasting, since food with sugar, fat and eggs were traditionally restricted during Lent.
Having National Pancake Day on Feb. 23 allows for an extra week of fundraising time. IHOPs around the country have already raised about $3.25 million for the Children’s Miracle Network in the past four years, and hope to hit the $5 million mark this year. This means that they have to raise $1.75 million, which is a hefty goal, but who doesn’t like pancakes?
Some participating IHOP locations on Long Island include: Lindenhurst, Babylon, Massapequa Park, Bay Shore, Hicksville and Huntington Station. For a complete list, head over to their website for their store locator.
By Heather Harrington
