Free Pancakes

A couple days a week I need to pick up my son from school and take him directly to an activity like guitar practice or tutoring.  On those days we usually stop at Tim Horton;s to get a snack.  This week he insisted we go to IHOP.  I am not a fan, but fine we go to get him some breakfast food.

We walk in at about 3:45 pm and it is packed.  I mean almost all the tables are full.  Very odd for this time of day.  Reviewing the menu, he orders steak and eggs, I get an omelette.  Odd because he usually orders pancakes.  While waiting for our food, we notice a placard on the table announcing today is free pancake day.  These signs are everywhere.  How did we miss free pancake day while we were right there and there is a sign everywhere you look? So some reason we burst out laughing at how unaware we are.  Our meal comes with a side of free pancakes.  We are hysterical.  Well that explains the crowds all eating their free pancakes.

As I later found out, IHOP does an annual free pancake day to raise money for a children;s organization nationally.  What a great idea and worthy cause.  However in speaking with the manager, I found that last year they gave out over 20,000 pancakes and only raised $1400 for the charity.  Isn't that sad?  Made me really look differently at those tables of people with nice clothes, driving in luxury cars and walking out without contributing.  Shameful.