HILLIARD, Ohio — When schools closed in March, the owner of Romeo's Pizza in Hilliard knew that also meant some kids might go hungry.
Andrew Sturgill decided to donate 20 pizzas a day to students at Westland High School in Galloway.
“When I was a kid, I was like a lot of our students. My mom struggled to make ends meet a lot of times,” Sturgill recalls. “I just have I have the ability to do it, and I just think it’s the right thing to do."
Westland Principal Dr. James Miller says word quickly spread about the pizza project and there was no shortage of volunteers.
“It was basically every day, another teacher finding out about this and wanting to be part of this,” Sturgill told 10TV’s Morning News anchor Angela An.
“They come in one door, and turn down a hallway, drop off pizzas and go right out another door,” says Sturgill, explaining how the process maintains proper social distance and avoidance of cross-contamination with gloves and masks and hand sanitizers at each door.
After the first week or so, 20 pizzas quickly turned into 40. Assistant Principal Kelli DelGuzzo says more teachers called wanting to help, and not just with deliveries. In a short time, teachers and staff collected $5,000 to help Romeo's Pizza continue this mission of kindness.
“The goal is to get every family in our building a pizza by May 31,” says DelGuzzo. “Every week, we’re adding more and more families, and by May 31, every family will receive a pizza from us.”
DelGuzzo says there will be enough money left over should the school decide to continue the pizza mission into the summer.
Teachers like Evan Spooner, who is in his fifth year of teaching English at Westland High, say it's fun to see a student's reaction when they show up at the door.
“They’re excited, confused sometimes, but generally just like, happy that someone took the time to think of them,” Spooner says with a smile. “It’s all about us and the community just rallying around our students,”
Other teachers have said the same;
"It's also a great time just getting to talk to them for a few minutes to see how they are doing and find out if they have any needs." ~ Mr. Jamie Dato
"The best part is getting to see our students. Makes you realize how much you really miss seeing them every day." ~ Autumn Harris
"As a teacher during this pandemic, it’s more than just teaching and learning. It’s about reaching out to those students and families in need. Food, groceries, or even clothes, whatever may help a family out." ~ Brent Shannon
"It’s an honor to hear a parent or student say WESTLAND really is the BEST." ~ Tawnya Miceli
"Delivering pizzas helped me understand my students better by seeing where they lived. I was able to make a personal connection with families which helped me!" ~ Christina Shore
It’s not every day students will shower their principal with emails of gratitude. But after weeks of pizza deliveries, Dr. Miller’s inbox was flooded with thanks.
"Good afternoon, I'm sending this email because of the pizza that Westland sent to our home. I wasn't sure who did but overheard the conversation and they said it was from Westland. Thank you so much and if you can send thanks for whomever gave the idea. My family very much appreciates it. It's been hard gathering groceries not just from this pandemic but from how citizens themselves are treating this with hate and fear towards each other. Thank you so much, it really shows you guys care."
"Hi there! I am #######’s mom. I just wanted to thank you and Westland for the pizza deliveries! In the beginning of the stay at home order we needed it desperately. We were struggling financially as one of our household incomes stopped. Since then, we have been blessed in so many ways! I can’t thank you enough!
Please forward this to all involved because it was a tremendous blessing in a time of need!"
"Hey, we weren’t too sure who to thank but thank you guys for the pizza!!"
“I think this drives the initiative that if we take care of our kids first and then we’ll get every ounce of learning from them,” Dr. Miller said.
These are different times. And heroes of a different kind often emerge when you're not looking. For Andrew Sturgill, this effort goes beyond just pizza making.
It's about feeding the soul.
“My late mother-in-law used to say when you get a pizza, it makes you feel normal, you know what I mean?” Sturgill said. “So, I just thought to myself, if I can give some of these families in need and in these crazy times and if I'm able to make them feel normal, and pizza just makes you feel normal.”