FORT WALTON BEACH — About 1,000 pancakes made it from griddle to plate Saturday morning as part of an annual fundraiser for the Salvation Army’s Empty Stocking Fund.
Magnolia Grill owner Tom Rice said this year’s Pancakes with Santa breakfast brought in more than $3,000 in cash and checks for local families’ Christmases this year, more than any other year’s fundraising.
“When you see the work they do, it’s an easy group to start working with,” Rice said. “All the money stays here locally and goes to a good cause.”
Magnolia Grill has hosted the event for more than a decade, Rice said. Each year, Santa stops by to greet the children while locals are invited to enjoy pancakes, sausage links, bacon and orange juice.
“I think we went through 14 gallons of orange juice,” Rice said, laughing. “The key to this is taking lots of trips to Sam’s Club for Krusteaz pancake mix. It’s really good stuff.
“Then, of course, we always have lots of butter and syrup.”
Rice hopes to raise more than $4,000 next year and even more the following year.
“We want to give as much as we can to this great cause,” Rice said. “The little smiles you see when Santa walks in and giving to a local cause makes this such a joy to do every year.”