Applebee’s pancake breakfast to benefit local toy drive

The Applebee’s restaurant on Olive Avenue will serve short stacks Saturday morning to benefit Operation Holiday Toy Drive, a fundraiser put on by Merced County departments and the local nonprofit Youth I Can.

Operation Holiday Toy Drive, a joint effort of the Merced County Sheriff’s Department, the Human Services Agency and The Bus, collects Christmas gifts for about 2,000 children living in Merced County. Toys, clothing, blankets and money are needed to benefit foster children and other kids in need. It’s a Christmas tradition that dates back more than a decade in Merced County.

For anyone who buys the $10 breakfast at Applebee’s from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday, $2 will be donated to the toy drive.

“We want to make sure that every kid is the recipient of a gift, has something to open on Christmas morning,” said sheriff’s Sgt. Delray Shelton. “Nobody wants a child to go without something, and that’s why this is always a priority for us. That’s why the agencies and businesses and people involved spend their time and their talents to make sure every kid has a nice moment on Christmas.”

Families who would like to sign up to receive donations from the drive may apply in person at the county’s Human Services Agency, 2115 W. Wardrobe Ave. For more information or to donate after Saturday, call 209-385-3000, ext. 5285.

This story was originally published December 11, 2015 at 5:30 PM with the headline "Applebee’s pancake breakfast to benefit local toy drive."