Pancake Day at IHOP
There’s nothing like free food for a good cause. For the eighth year, IHOP restaurants are offering a free stack of buttermilk pancakes today from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The popular pancake chain hopes to raise 3 million dollars in donations for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and other local charities. The charities will receive 100 hundred percent of proceeds.
In 2012, IHOP raised more than 3 million dollars for the various charities. The restaurant has raised over 10 million dollars over the past eight pancake holidays.
Pancake day is typically celebrated on “Fat Tuesday” or the last day before Lent. This year it occurs on Tuesday, February 12.
IHOP.
Folks got a free stack of pancakes for a good cause Tuesday because it was IHOP National Pancake Day.
The restaurant offered free pancakes at all its East Tennessee locations in hopes that customers would leave a donation for the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.
The IHOP on Merchants was packed Tuesday afternoon with folks showing their support for the hospital.
One woman says it was especially important for her family to take part.
“Because of the service they did for my son. Not just for his overnight stay, but also for our emergency room visits we had frequently, and the nurses began to know him almost personally and accommodate him there as well” – said Quinisha Greenle.
Last year, local IHOP customers donated more than $18.000 to Children’s Hospital.
Yvonne Hannah and her employees at the IHOP on Baltimore Pike are used to making pancakes.
But on Tuesday’s National Pancake Day it went to a whole different level. That’s because pancakes were free at all IHOP restaurants for one day. Hannah, the restaurant’s general manager, said she expected about 900 more pancake orders than for a normal weekday.
However, not everyone visiting the IHOP needs a special day, or for them to be free, to eat pancakes.
“I love their pancakes, they are the best” – said Ronnie DiEnno, of Glenolden. “I’ve gotten to like them and sometimes I get a craving for them.”
Hannah enthusiastically greeted customers as they came into the door and those who called to see if indeed, the pancakes were free or if the restaurant had a long line.
Tuesday was also Hannah’s birthday, so it was a special day for her, as well. She was hoping a first-time visit to the IHOP for some will lead to regular visits later.
“We will see a good number of new customers today” – she said. “We have to keep them coming back.”