Local pizza shop gives back to community on Christmas Day
Dec 25, 2024
BROWNSBURG, Ind. - A local pizza shop is not only giving back to the community this Christmas, but also its employees.
Every Christmas for the past ten years, the staff at "Rockstar Pizza" in Brownsburg are just that - rockstars.
Providing holiday meals, taking time out from their families, to be with their work family."It's just fun! We have fun together and customers are always super nice," said server, Debi Herrel.Thirteen staff members volunteered this year to work Christmas day.
"It's very rewarding to just be able to be here for people who don't have family near or family in general they come in they'll give us a little bit of their story and how they've ended up where they are today. Just showing their appreciation for us being open," said kitchen staff member, Ashly Notter.The staff says this is the busiest four hours they have all year, and they've have had more than 200 calls for orders for Christmas Day. Some people even pre-ordered earlier this week. From making pizzas, to stuffed breadsticks, the labor of love comes straight from the hearts of these volunteers to the community.
"I'm happy! I'm glad we can just make somebody else's day better," said Herrel.The staff says owners Ron and Colby Mathews donate 100 percent of the proceeds to employees. Most years they take home anywhere from $500-$700."He knows being a little mom and pop shop, Christmas bonuses usually don't happen. It's a little bit harder to come up with stuff, so I think this is just his way of being able to thank us," said Notter.And the biggest payoff isn't the cash they bring home, but the love they give away.Because the staff knows what this meal means for many people. "We had a little old lady, she was sweetest little old lady. She lived here her whole life, their only daughter and her husband and kids just left for new York and she couldn't afford to fly out for Christmas that year. So this was her Christmas celebration for herself," said Notter.And the staff just hopes this Christmas tradition continues for many years to come."Just that we care, we're here for them and hope that they're here for us," said Herrel."It's a rewarding feeling knowing that we can be here a little bit of support for people, and it makes my heart very happy to be able to do this for people," said Notter.