More than 30 pancake breakfasts this weekend for a good cause

More than 30 charitable pancake breakfasts are happening in the Dayton area this Sunday.

The 29th annual Day of Caring Pancake Breakfast on Feb. 24, is a part of the grassroots organization established in 1991, “made up of volunteers committed to increasing personal awareness and involvement toward confronting the ever-increasing national plight of hunger and homelessness,” according to the organization’s website.

The main purpose of Day of Caring 365 is to bring individuals together to raise money for local nonprofit agencies that serve the needs of the hungry and homeless. In addition, it provides volunteers and donors an opportunity to give back to their local community.

“When people come together to help one another, there is a sense of community and purpose that evolves,” founder and executive director Jan Venkayya said in a news release.

Day of Caring, established in 1991, continues to increase the reach of its program by securing new brunch sites, adding free brunch sites for the hungry, and increasing the number of volunteers and donors that contribute their time and resources. During the last 28 years, Day of Caring has donated more than $830,000. Day of Caring is a volunteer, nonprofit program accredited by the Better Business Bureau that continues in its efforts to fight hunger and homelessness.

“Each year, 500 volunteers get together to serve over 7,000 meals,” Day of Caring 365 trustee Steve Pax said in a news release. “Those who are homeless or hungry find a generous support from our community during Thanksgiving and Christmas, however The Day of Caring Pancake Brunch takes the last Sunday in February to remind the needy that we don’t forget about them. We show that we care 365 days a year.”

A dozen sites in the Dayton area served brunch at the very first Day of Caring and raised $8,000 for the Montgomery County Hunger and Housing Coalitions. Fast forward to 2012: more than 1,000 volunteers dedicated their time to raise over $44,000.

Fast forward to today, Day of Caring takes place at locations in the Dayton and Cincinnati area.

Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for seniors (older than 60) and children (younger than 12). The tickets can be purchased through the individual brunch sites, or at the door. The brunch features a generous serving of Bob Evans pancakes and sausage, coffee and juice.

In addition to the pancake brunch, The Day of Caring 365 has established Roberta’s Pantry. This pantry provides personal hygiene items such as shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, deodorant and soap that can’t be purchased with food stamps. A collection box for donated personal hygiene items will be at each pancake site.

Dayton.com and Dayton Daily News reporter Amelia Robinson and local personality Jim Bucher are honorary chairs for this year’s event.