Chris Schuler was up at 5 a.m. Jan. 31 making pancakes.

"We try to make a connection with the community," said Mr. Schuler, the general manager of the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar on Whiskey Road, who cooked pancakes and other breakfast items to benefit the Aiken Lions Club.

Once or twice a month, area nonprofit groups benefit from the breakfast program.

"This is a new fundraiser for us," club President John Anderson said.

Two Applebee's managers cook the food, and club members serve the meals and coffee.

More than 200 people attended the breakfast, Mr. Anderson said.

"It was a very good crowd. We're very pleased with the turnout," he said.

Celebrating its 74th anniversary this year, the Aiken Lions Club helps raise money to support the mission of Lions Club International, which is to end preventable blindness.

Mr. Anderson said the organization helps provide glasses for those who cannot afford them. The Aiken Lions Club has a scholarship fund for nursing students at Aiken Technical College. It pays for books for its recipients, but he said the club would like to expand the program.

Traditional fundraisers include a broom sale, which should take place in March or April, and its annual golf tournament, which will be in June at Houndslake Country Club.

The club meets at 6 p.m. the first and third Mondays at Cumberland Village.

For more information about the club, call Mr. Anderson at (803) 649-2646.

Reach Charmain Brackett at charmain.brackett@augustachronicle.com.