A local pizza joint has stepped up once again to give back in our community, feeding hundreds at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans.

In November, Mr. Pizza gave out free turkeys to families hit hard by the pandemic, who may have not been able to have a Thanksgiving dinner otherwise. This week, the restaurant delivered free pizzas to feed more than 300 people at the vets home.

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Tuesday, February 9th was National Pizza Day. According to WZZM-13, Mr. Pizza fed around 185 people at lunch, 75 more at dinner, and at 1 a.m. on Feb. 10, about 50 third shifters.

Owner Jacob Schoonmaker tells WZZM-13,

"Now, it’s more important than ever. We’re strapped. Everyone’s strapped. Restaurants are having their good and bad days and we’ve got to stick together. Right now, it’s critical that we know where we come from and who we’re here for, and we’ve got to keep moving forward."

In addition to the turkeys at Thanksgiving, Mr. Pizza has donated has donated pizza and subs to the United Way and frontline workers at Mercy Health and Spectrum Butterworth Hospitals.

Schoonmaker tells WZZM,

"They’re the heroes. They’re the ones that make it go around and keep us moving. What we do is very minimal and it makes us feel very good to do those kinds of things."

The restaurant, at 553 Michigan St NE, is one of Grand Rapids oldest pizza shops, opening in midtown in 1963.

Mr. Pizza is open for dine-in (at 25% capacity due to current restrictions), delivery, and  pickup daily: Monday through Thursday 11a.m. to 3a.m., Friday 11a.m. until 4a.m., Saturday 4p.m. to 4a.m., Sunday 4p.m. to 12a.m. Mr. Pizza's menu includes regular and specialty pizza, Stromboli, subs, salads, breadsticks, pasta, and wet burritos.

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