THUNDER BAY – A local pizzeria is celebrating a decade in business by giving back.
Eat Local Pizza made a series of special deliveries on Tuesday, celebrating their 10th anniversary with an ambitious target of providing enough pies to feed 1,000 people.
“It feels great,” owner Jim Stadey said, after dropping off more than two dozen pizzas in time for lunch at Grace Place.
“It’s really why we built the business in the first place. We’re very interested in giving back as much as we can. The community is what allows us to grow and it’s important for us to give back to the community in the same way.”
Stadey said using their anniversaries to help support good causes has become an annual tradition.
Grace Place pastor Melody Macsemchuk said the gesture goes a long way.
“They know that somebody cares for them,” Macsemchuk said. “Not only are they going to have their stomachs filled, but they’re also going to know they’re loved. That’s a huge thing for us.”
“It really provides that real hug that people need.”
In addition to Grace Place, Eat Local is also donating pizza to the Dew Drop Inn, Shelter House, Evergreen A United Neighbourhood and Giant Hearts.
Stadey said it feels fantastic for his team to support groups and organizations working to make a difference.
“These are organizations that are helping the people in our community that need help the most,” Stadey said. “These are people that can often fall between the cracks if we don’t help out. Organizations like Grace Place are fantastic, filled with volunteers that are doing really good work.”
