Those looking for a place to have pancakes on Sunday mornings, while also helping a veterans organization, need look no farther than the American Legion Riders’ pancake breakfasts held every Sunday through March.

Breakfast will be served from 9 a.m. to noon at American Legion Post 91 on 12th Street Southwest.

The Legion Riders consist of members of the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliaries and Sons of the American Legion, who are motorcyclists.

During the year, Post 91 raises money for three $1,500 scholarships and a donation to The Eagles Healing Nest in Sauk Center, a care facility for veterans suffering from what Eagles Nest calls “invisible wounds” suffered during their service.

That fundraiser aims to get veterans treatment at Eagles Healing Nest to work toward ending veteran suicides.

Funds raised through the pancake breakfasts might not go to these two projects, but they do support the work the Legion Riders do.

“That money is used for if we find a veteran who is having problems making ends meet,” said member Roe Naylor.

During the holiday season in 2019, these general funds were used to buy a Christmas dinner, help cover bills and provide some support for the family of a deployed service member whose family was struggling.

In addition, the funds have been used for building blinds for disabled veterans to use while hunting in the Brainerd area and covering the operation costs of the organization’s operations so 100 percent of the special fundraisers can go to scholarships or Eagles Healing Nest.

“When our specific projects and events come up, we make more money for them,” Naylor said.

Before fundraisers like the pancake breakfasts, members of the organization would cover much of the costs themselves, he said.They also receive support from the community and local businesses.

Being part of organizations like the Legion Riders or the American Legion in general are helpful for veterans, Naylor said.

“You can see the connection there (between veterans),” he said.

The groups allow veterans to talk about what they went through with people who were in a similar situation.

“They’ll lean on each other and talk,” Naylor said.

The reason the pancake breakfasts are so important is that they allow the American Legion Riders to do their larger projects.

Naylor also loves seeing the impact these funds can have when they are used to help a veteran or their family in need.

“It hits me very deep,” he said. “It makes me very happy.”

Having these emergency funds on hand means they can do projects when there is no time for a larger fundraiser.

“It gets used for so many different things,” Naylor said.

Those looking for more information about the pancake breakfasts or the American Legion Riders in general can call Naylor at 1-507-438-5804.