MANSFIELD, Ohio — Feeding the Forces has become a local fan-favorite tradition over the last four years. Every year, volunteers give their Christmas hours to give back to first responders and public service officials.
During Feeding the Forces, an annual event hosted by Two Cousins Pizza Co., the locally-owned pizza shop bakes pizzas and donates them to the county’s public service workers on Christmas Day.
Co-owner Brad Konves said, “If you really stop to think about them (public service workers), you see that they sacrifice themselves and their families every day. All we want to do is give them a taste of Christmas when they’re working. It’s our way of saying thanks.”
Two Cousins Pizza Co. decided four years ago to start this tradition of giving back to the community’s public service workers after receiving positive feedback from a Facebook post by co-owner Bill Konves. As a result, the event has grown to serve the entire county’s safety forces with a box of warm pizza, chips and soda.
But just how much goes into maintaining this benevolent tradition? The graph below shows the numbers behind Feeding the Forces.
Two Cousins employees started preparing for the Christmas Day delivery of pizzas in advance. The prepping started Christmas Eve at 8 p.m., and Konves said he did not leave the shop until 12:30 a.m. Christmas Day.
He and his wife were back at it at 8 a.m. Christmas morning. The last delivery finished around 4:30 p.m. Christmas Day.
“And then we went to my sister’s to have prime rib,” said Konves. He wanted to thank all the volunteers for a good job and he thanked Jill Waite, the one who headed up this year’s effort, for a stand up job.
“If we didn’t feel good about this, we wouldn’t have kept doing it,” said Konves. “They (public service workers) do a job we can never repay,” he added.
The public service workers seem to appreciate the event’s gesture. Facebook comments inundate the Two Cousins’ profile.
Traci Lehnhart Russel posted, “Your elves were here and dropped off lots of goodies. Thank You so much for your kindness and generosity. We so appreciate it. First time having your pizza and definitely NOT the last. Very good..will highly recommend you!! Merry Christmas from us 3rd shifters at Juvenile Detention.”
Melinda Kash Radojcsics said, “Thank you for helping feed my husband at the Sheriffs Dept last night on 3rd shift.”
For more pictures of this year’s Feeding the Forces, check out their Facebook page. For more information on the pizza shop, visit their website or call 419-522-2211.
