Pay-It-Forward Pizza: Rosa’s Provides Slices to Dozens of Homeless People Every Day

When Mason Wartman left his job on Wall Street to return to his native Philadelphia, he became the owner of Rosa’s Fresh Pizza.

Rosa’s, however — located on 25 S 11th Street in the “City of Brotherly Love” — isn’t just your average pizza parlor.

Its pay-it-forward approach, which began when a customer offered to pay for a fellow patron’s slice — consistent with the restaurant’s mission, slices only cost $1 — epitomizes selflessness and unconditional kindness. The gesture rubbed off on many others who walked into Rosa’s, and suddenly customers began purchasing two slices — one for themselves, and another for somebody else. When an extra slice is bought, it is documented with a Post-it note for future use. As you’ll see in the video below, the restaurant’s walls are covered with hundreds of Post-it notes.

Homeless and disadvantaged people in the area are free to take a Post-it note and redeem it for a slice. Rosa’s has earned a reputation for both the quality of its food and its generosity, and it currently serves 50 to 100 homeless people every day. In total, more than 150,000 slices have been given to those in need.

As much credit as Rosa’s deserves for providing a platform for these wonderful deeds, it’s ultimately the customers who should get the most praise: They’re the ones who are paying to keep their fellow Philadelphians fed.

One also can donate slices online, at the restaurant’s official website, and there’s a second location at 16 S 40th Street in Philly.

Make sure to SHARE this wonderful story with your friends, and definitely check out Rosa’s the next time you’re in Philadelphia!