As the owner of Cam’s Pizza, Tony Calascribetta has provided comfort to people with pizza for decades. But as he sorts through clothing, Calascibetta hopes to impact the people around him with more than a memorable slice.
“I had a desire to help the community," he said.
He used to sell pizzas in his trailer.
“We’ve been doing it for close to 30 years, our trailer business," he said.
But now it's different.
“What we need to do is give our pizza away," Calascibetta said.
To people in need, that is.
“We went to go look at the different spots where the homeless are," he said. "We ended up going in front of the rescue mission where folks were all standing there and we were able to get them all out there. So guess what, what we’re gonna do is we’re gonna come here with the pizza trailer and we’re gonna give pizza away.”
He and his friends have been doing this for five years and over time, it's become an event.
“As it grew, I had more and more people get involved," he said. "So then we started handing out clothes."
On the second Tuesday of every month, they go to the rescue mission with boxes of clothing and his pizza trailer. During this time of year, that means just a little bit more than usual. The holidays are meant to be a time of togetherness and celebration with family and friends. But homeless people are out in the cold and away from their loved ones.
“A lot of people just shun away from them, they ignore them," he said. "And just being able to walk up to them, give them a hug, talk to them, encourage them, it gives us something to look forward to every month.”
They arrive to a huge roar from the crowd. While the pizza is cooking, clothes are handed out to everyone who needs it. According to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, 3.5 million Americans experience homelessness every year.
“You take a lot of things for granted and then when you see the situation that you see and you realize how bad it is," he said. "You realize that it can happen to anyone.”
One person it happened to is Deena Mobley. Growing up in foster care, she spent more than a month homeless. Now back on her feet, she wishes more people did this.
“I think they look forward to this," she said. "They can go up and get pizza ten times, they can get water, they can get blankets to keep them warm. So I think that’s a really really great thing. I think you guys should keep on coming and just include coffee.”
“It puts a smile on my face to see all these people appreciating what we do for them," Calascibetta said. "Bringing the clothes, bringing the pizza down here. They’re so appreciative, they’re so greatful, and I know somehow someway we’re touching their lives. Everybody can do something, get out there we need your help, they need your help. Everybody you realize how blessed you are and we just need to share that with everyone else who’s not as blessed."