It combines good eats with good company, all done for a good cause. It is Saturday’s biannual pancake breakfast organized by the Chesapeake-Proctorville-Rome Lions Club.

“There are so many people who get excited about it,” Herb Nida, club president, said. “Lots of people come in and see people they haven’t seen in a year. It is exciting to see.”

But behind the food, fun and fellowship is a serious cause that the eastern end club has supported for years. Anyone, especially children and seniors, who need help paying for an eye exam or glasses can turn to the club.

“In Chesapeake, Proctorville and Rome, any child who can’t afford glasses, they contact us. We help get them an eye test and glasses,” Nida said. “If we have senior citizens, we also help them. We try to help anybody who can’t do it themselves. ”

Joining the club in this outreach is the Deeds Family Vision Care whose office works in this project.

“Anytime he gets anybody and he feels they need glasses and an eye test they can’t afford, he contacts us for the person,” Nida said.

Besides the starring attraction, the pancake breakfast menu will include sausage, coffee and orange juice. Sugar-free syrup will be available for those with special dietary needs.

The pancake breakfast is a Lions Club tradition in the spring and fall and is one of the club’s major fund-raisers. Members also work a booth at the Chesapeake Village Octoberfest to bring in money for the eye care project.

On top of these events members make individual contributions to help out those less fortunate.

“The members contribute a lot of money to the organization to make sure we have enough to take care of the needs,” Nida said. “I feel blessed to be a part of it. We have some great people in the club.”

The breakfast begins at 7 a.m. and runs until 11 a.m. at the Chesapeake Elementary School. Cost per person is $5.