Joney Ponrajah, owner of Sunset Grill on Welland Avenue in St. Catharines. Credit: St. Catharines Standard

For more than a decade, Welland Ave., St. Catharines Sunset Grill owner Joney Ponrajah has been turning one of our most beloved breakfast staples into something even more meaningful: a way to support children in his community.

Every Monday and Tuesday, Joney prepares more than 200 pancakes for students at local schools in St. Catharines, helping ensure that children have access to a nutritious breakfast so they can start their school day ready to learn.

His efforts were recently highlighted by the St. Catharines Standard in a story about his ongoing commitment to supporting students experiencing food insecurity.

A Personal Connection to the Cause

For Joney, this initiative is deeply personal.

Reflecting on his own childhood, Joney shared with the St. Catharines Standard:

“I felt that when I went to school, I’m hungry, I can’t study, I can’t focus.”

That experience stayed with him. When Joney opened his Sunset Grill restaurant, he knew he wanted to find a way to help children in his community avoid facing the same challenge.

In his interview with the St. Catharines Standard, Joney explained his motivation:

“It’s very simple, when I went to the school, I starved, so when I opened the business, I wanted to help the community.”

Today, Joney delivers pancakes to E.I. McCulley School, as well as alternating between St. Alfred Catholic School and St. Christopher Catholic School. His partnership with Niagara Nutrition Partners helps make the weekly initiative possible.

More Than Just a Breakfast

For students experiencing food insecurity, having access to food at school can mean more than simply satisfying hunger. It can help remove one more barrier to learning and allow students to focus on their day.

Jordan Mammoliti, Giving and Community Engagement Manager with Niagara Nutrition Partners, described Joney as a dependable community partner whose support makes a meaningful difference to local nutrition programs.

Mammoliti also emphasized the importance of partnerships between local businesses and student nutrition programs, noting that community support helps bridge the gap between available government funding and the true cost of providing meals to students.

For Joney, however, the motivation is simple: helping kids start their school day with something to eat.

Speaking to the St. Catharines Standard, Joney emphasized how important breakfast is for students:

“In the morning, if kids have something to eat, they can focus on their studies. Very simple, if you’re hungry you can’t study.”

A Community Effort

Joney’s commitment to giving back extends beyond his weekly school pancake deliveries. He has also provided pancakes for the Mayor’s Pancake Breakfast in support of Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold.

His dedication to student nutrition was also recognized when Niagara Nutrition Partners nominated him for an Ontario Volunteer Service Award, which he received last year.

But recognition isn’t what motivates Joney.

When discussing what motivates him to continue the initiative, Joney told the St. Catharines Standard:

“I just feel happy when I do this, I feel happiness, that is all.”

Fresh Food, Fresh Opportunities to Give Back

At Sunset Grill, we believe that food has a way of bringing people together. Since opening our first restaurant in Toronto in 1985, giving back to the communities we serve has remained an important part of who we are.

Joney’s story is a wonderful example of what can happen when a local restaurant owner sees a need in his community and decides to do something about it.

Every week, those pancakes represent more than breakfast. They’re a reminder that small acts of kindness, repeated consistently, can make a lasting difference.

And sometimes, making a difference starts with something as simple as a stack of pancakes.

Read the full article here: https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/niagara-region/sunset-grill-owner-cooks-pancakes-for-food-insecure-students/article_742538f8-05d2-507c-881c-9865331f080e.html