TERRE HAUTE — Free short stacks of IHOP buttermilk pancakes and the Crisis Pregnancy Center of Terre Haute will be the focus of the 2010 National Pancake Day celebration at the Terre Haute IHOP at 2901 S. Third St. on Feb. 23. The local restaurant, owned by Womack Restaurants, will join 1,400 IHOP restaurants nationwide in the celebration.
Terre Haute residents are invited to visit the IHOP restaurant between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. to receive a free short stack of three IHOP signature buttermilk pancakes and to consider making a voluntary contribution to Crisis Pregnancy Center of Terre Haute. National Pancake Day has been celebrated by IHOPs nationwide since 2006, raising nearly $3.25 million to support the Children’s Miracle Network and other local charities.
“National Pancake Day has become a tradition for many families who come to their local IHOP for great food and service, states Scott Womack, president of Womack Restaurants, an IHOP franchisee with nine Indiana and two Ohio locations. “This event also allows us raise money and awareness for some important local charities. In 2009, our IHOP restaurants raised $9,000 on National Pancake Day, nearly doubling the donations raised during our 2008 event, said Womack. “We also served up over 9,400 free short pancake stacks to our local communities.”
Pancake Day has been celebrated for centuries in England, as people prepared for fasting during Lent. Strict rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent, so pancakes were made to use up the supply of eggs, milk, butter and other dairy products, hence the name Pancake Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday.
