U-Haul volunteers gathered in June to bake more than 150 tasty pizzas at St. Vincent de Paul as part of the Company’s longstanding partnership with the Valley nonprofit and commitment to doing good works in the community.
For the past 70 years, SVdP has provided food, clothing, shelter and health services to Arizonans in need. Team Members regularly offer their time to support SVdP initiatives, whether it’s on their own or through designated U-Haul volunteer events.
Most recently, U-Haul prepared pizzas for SVdP guests at the charity’s main dining hall in Phoenix.
“This was my first experience with pizza-making at St. Vincent de Paul and I loved it,” U-Haul administrative assistant Michelle Vukov-Mikel noted. “With music playing in the background, everyone working together to create the pizzas, and the aroma of pizzas baking in the oven, it made for a very fun and enjoyable way to give back.”
SVdP provides 7,000 hot meals a day. This work could not be done without the help of volunteers, who account for more than 95% of the charity’s workforce. In addition to meals, SVdP provides a food reclamation warehouse, shelter for the elderly and homeless, a bike shop, a family dining room, and a “dream center” where children can play and learn.
“I had a great time making pizzas for the local community and learning about the other services that St Vincent De Paul provides, such as giving clothes and shelter for those that are in need,” said Paulina Alaniz, a freight specialist at U-Haul.
U-Haul volunteers were responsible for prepping each pizza before it went into the oven. That entailed stretching out dough, and adding sauce, cheese and various toppings like pepperoni, ham and pineapple to create delicious meals for SVdP guests.
“Being able to help was such a blessing,” added Benjamin Fitzhugh, a buyer at the U-Haul Tech Center. “It fills my heart with such joy every time we get this opportunity. I have the best team in the world.”
Interested in volunteering? Contact the Community Relations team to learn more. And read about past events at SVdP by clicking here.
