Free pancakes are on the menu Tuesday at IHOP restaurants nationwide in honor of National Pancake Day.

The chain is giving away a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes to customers from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, at participating restaurants, including the San Luis Obispo location.

In return for the free pancakes, SLO County customers are encouraged to make a donation to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals program at Cottage Children's Hospital in Santa Barbara. IHOP hopes to raise $3 million this year with the free pancake promotion, according to a news release.

IHOP restaurants gave away 4 million pancakes during last year's pancake day promotion — enough to create a stack nearly 16 miles high, the company said. Since 2006, IHOP has raised more than $10 million for charities and given away more than 14 million pancakes.

San Luis Obispo County's only IHOP restaurant is at 212 Madonna Road in San Luis Obispo. An IHOP is also located at 202 Nicholson Ave. in Santa Maria.