A call for 150 pizzas spiraled into Operation Pizza, an effort that is feeding National Guard troops stationed in Washington.
Security has increased in Washington after a group of supporters of President Donald Trump ransacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. The riot led to the deaths of five people, including a Capitol Police officer.
Thousands of National Guard troops are stationed in the city through next week when President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are inaugurated.
Until then, there’s pizza. A lot of it.
Reps. Michael Waltz and Vicky Hartzler first ordered 150 pizzas Tuesday for the troops at the Capitol Visitor Center.
Thank you to our @USNationalGuard for their continued service to our country.
— Rep. Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) January 13, 2021
It was an honor having the opportunity to thank them in person (and with pizza) alongside @RepHartzler. pic.twitter.com/FKDbNFcmPi
Our National Guardsmen and Capitol Police are the true heroes and patriots.
— Rep. Vicky Hartzler (@RepHartzler) January 13, 2021
Let’s keep them in our prayers. They are everything those thugs and domestic terrorists who stormed the Capitol will never be - heroes, patriots, men and women of decency and integrity. https://t.co/50CuJVcDc5
“We wanted to help, so we matched (the order),” Micheline Mendelsohn, the deputy CEO for the company that owns We the Pizza, told the “Today” show. “Then we realized we weren’t even sending nearly enough, so we just started donating to troops.”
We have been donating hundreds of pizza pies to feed the @NationalGuard stationed at the #CapitolBuilding. If you would like to help support you can donate at https://t.co/moPpt5sE95 pic.twitter.com/Cyps9IfM3a
— Spike Mendelsohn (@chefspike) January 15, 2021
That order soon doubled. They have served troops more than 700 pizzas so far, ”Today” reported. Another 300 are prepared for Friday. The pizza shop plans to deliver 300 pizzas a day to the troops until next week.
“We are so honored to serve the National Guard doing the important work of keeping our Capitol safe,” the company wrote on social media.
Other restaurants have also hopped on board.
District Donut, Buffalo and Bergen, CHIKO, The Duck & The Peach, Maketto, Ris and Pizzeria Paradiso are also getting in on the food philanthropy.
We've had several people ask about sending doughnuts to the National Guard at the Capitol.
— District Doughnut 🍩 (@DCDoughnut) January 15, 2021
We're teaming up with @wethepizza to send a major delivery this Sunday. We're chipping in 250, but if you want to pile on, you can donate via the link below!https://t.co/1lFv2MBlGI
“Because we’re all a community that COVID and now these violent protests have hit hard,” Mendelsohn said. “I mean, the whole city. Really. It’s bananas.”
You can directly order them a pie! Go to our website https://t.co/UuLhiOP3S2> Capitol Hill> Whole pizza> National Guard Pie Donation> Curbside. Thank you kindly ❤️
— We, The Pizza (@wethepizza) January 14, 2021
While the interest from the public is appreciated, a National Guard spokesperson told Axios “we are not logistically able to accept donations of any kind.” The spokesperson stressed that troops are on a rotation and have sleeping quarters at area hotels, along with being supplied hot meals or MREs (meals ready to eat) while serving the Capitol and surrounding area.
Cox Media Group
