STRAW HAT PIZZA ON SPRING STREET DONATES UP TO 5,000 HEART-SHAPED PIZZAS TO LOCAL SCHOOLS!

Article and photo by John Grossi

Owners Deborah Morris and Denise Jongerius took their “Heart-Shaped” Pizza program to another level this past Valentine’s Day by donating 5,000 vouchers for a Free Heart-Shaped Pizza to local school children.

On Valentine’s Day, students at Minnie Gant, Cleveland, Stanford, Cubberley, Carver, Prisk, Emerson, and Patrick Henry were given a “Valentine Card” with the free voucher, no-strings-attached, no purchase necessary, that could be used up until March 15th.

“If everyone brought their coupon in... I’d be so thrilled,” said Deborah when asked how many pizzas they were prepared to give away. If they didn’t use it this year, they can use it next year. We want everyone to know we’re here and we’re a kid-friendly pizza restaurant. I grew up in the community, went to all the schools in the area, and we value giving back to our community.”

The locally-owned Straw Hat Pizza has been a staple on Spring Street in East Long Beach for 33 years now. They have always made fundraising, team parties, and give-back nights a priority in their business. “Seeing the smiles on so many kids’ faces when they see their heart-shaped pizza has been incredibly rewarding,” said Denise. “We know we’ll keep doing this for years to come.”