Project Safety Net's first annual Pancake Breakfast is scheduled for Oct. 20. The fundraiser is the brainchild of Palo Alto firefighters, who had been looking to forge a relationship with a local charity.

"We felt a connection with PSN (Project Safety Net)," Palo Alto Fire Department Captain Carter French said.

Referring to the youth suicide cluster in 2009-2010, he said, "When those suicides were happening, we had to deal with that. It was difficult."

Carter said that the partnership with Project Safety Net "is the perfect connection. We want to help bring awareness and funding to this organization," he said.

The mission of Project Safety Net is "to develop and implement an effective, comprehensive, community-based mental health plan for overall youth well-being in Palo Alto. The plan includes education, prevention and intervention strategies that together provide a Safety Net for youth and teens in Palo Alto."

Facebook chefs will also be on hand for the breakfast event and plan to do the actual pancake cooking. Other activities include a fire engine show, a jaws-of-life demonstration, door prizes and a safety fair. It takes place Saturday, Oct. 20, at Fire Station 6 on the Stanford campus, 711 Serra St., starting at 9 a.m. Tickets are $5.

— Daryl Savage

Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.