Framingham Baking Company Offers Free Pizza To Furloughed Workers

FRAMINGHAM, MA- Wednesday marked 33 days the government has been shut down and the repercussions have been felt from Washington all the way to cities like Framingham.

Thousands of federal employees have been working for over a month without pay and for many families, something as simple as getting dinner ready has become a struggle.

Framingham Baking Company saw that struggle in their city and decided to act. For one day only, on Wednesday, the bakery offered free pizza to furloughed workers. The bakery took to Facebook on Friday to spread the word, urging families that have been furloughed to come in and get a free half sheet of their cheese pizza.

The promotion was limited to one pizza per household and workers had to show appropriate federal/military I.D.

The idea for the promotion came from owner Ernie Thomas' two sister's, Joan Thomas and Kathy Rich. The two had been talking about the shutdown and decided to help local families get dinner done without worrying about the cost.

Andrea Dooley, a manager at the bakery and Ernie Thomas' daughter, told Patch she knows several people affected by the shutdown. "One, who is coming in today- her husband is in the coast guard and out to sea. They are currently not being paid. She has three kids," Dooley said. "We hope the government starts paying them soon. They need to see the families they’re affecting. Mentally and physically."

Dooley started a Facebook poll over the weekend asking who would participate in the promotion; It received 73 responses with 38 percent of people planning on attending. The bakery took those responses and ran with them, preparing 200 half sheets to give away, Wednesday.

By the end of the day the bakery gave away just 10 pizzas, leaving 190 leftover, but the business said those who came in were very appreciative. Most of the leftover pizzas were given to the fire and police departments in Framingham and Ashland.

"We just want to support our community as the have supported us for over 100 years," Dooley said.

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Photo Credit: Framingham Baking Company