Washington restaurants join forces to ‘feed the troops’ guarding Capitol Hill

It all started when the outlet got a call from Representatives Michael Waltz and Vicky Hartzler asking it to deliver 150 pizzas to the troops at the Capitol Visitor Center.

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A post shared by Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz)

“We wanted to help, so we matched (the order),” Micheline Mendelsohn, the deputy CEO for the company that owns pizzeria told TODAY. “Then we realized we weren’t even sending nearly enough so we just started donating to troops,” adding they plan to send about 300 a day until next week.

Stunned. Just stunned. pic.twitter.com/iNeUTp8AWC

— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) January 13, 2021

According to People, the company has delivered approximately 700 pizzas to troops who have been stationed at the Capitol Visitor Center, Emancipation Hall, and surrounding hallways. Photos of the personnel sleeping everywhere from reception areas to the entrance to the building on cold, hard floors in peak winters raised concerns.

When u lay it head upon ur pillow tonight take a moment to pray & honor the women & men of the National Guard who right now sleep on cold marble floors of the US Capitol. Ready at a moments notice to protect American Democracy from Americans.

Never thought I would type that… pic.twitter.com/lAEQdu5TqE

— Robert Von Schalscha (@rvon364) January 14, 2021

The company set up a donation page on its website asking public, “Please donate to feed the troops protecting our democracy.”

A member of the National Guard carries pizza’s boxes into the Dirksen Senate Office building to feed National Guardsmen providing security at the US Capitol. (Source: Reuters)

With people donating, the restaurant decided to include Capitol Police and the fire department in the initiative and with a surge in donations, it resulted in about 1,500 pizzas being delivered on Thursday, TMZ reported.

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

Other restaurants have also joined in the initiative to make it a successful mission. District Donut, Buffalo and Bergen, CHIKO, The Duck & The Peach, Maketto, Ris and Pizzeria Paradiso are also getting in on the food philanthropy, WFTV reported.

National Guard troops have been stationed inside and outside the seat of Congress since Trump’s impeachment proceedings and around 20,000 National Guard troops are expected in Washington to secure the city before President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20, Reuters reported.