PORT DICKINSON (WBNG) – The Applebee’s on Front Street was serving no ordinary meal on Saturday.

The restaurant hosted its second annual Flapjacks for Freedom event, providing help to the Southern Tier Veterans Support Group (STVSG).

The pancake celebration was part of Applebee’s National Good Neighbor Day.

Employees were happy to be a part of it.

“Any of these days just warms your heart. They’re our favorite days to work,” Assistant General Manager Danielle Williamson said. “We’ve had several veterans throughout the week come in, perhaps not being able to come today, but they wanted to show their support for us, and for their friends and fellow veterans.”

Veterans, their families and friends were able to dine on delicious pancakes and coffee, while picking at the spread of donuts, cookies and muffins.

To STVSG president Benjamin Margoulis, events like these mean a lot to him and his fellow veterans.

“This is a really special thing that Applebee’s does,” Margoulis said. “It’s activities like this that give us the funds that help us to provide short-term financial assistance to veterans.”

Good Neighbor Day volunteer Casey Yelverton was ecstatic about the turnout to this year’s event.

“We had way more donors, we really got ourselves out there, we started a little earlier than normal,” Yelverton said. “Last year we only had 13 people come, and this year we’re over 50.”

Attendees could not only indulge in their appetites, but also in raffles. Williamson said the number of raffle options this year heavily outnumber last year’s.

Winners of the baskets will be announced at a party on Sunday, September 29 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Applebee’s Front Street location.