By Nathan Grant, News Section Editor ‘16

While commonly referred to as “Pizza Club,” Everyone Loves Pizza is about much more than eating pizza. It is also about donating pizza to individuals in need. On February 8th, the Everyone Loves Pizza club hosted a pizza party for two special needs classrooms from the Loveland High School and the Clermont County Developmental Disability Adult Program. Usually, Everyone Loves Pizza donates food by traveling to organizations around the city. This time, however, the club invited 30 people to join Country Day students and faculty for a pizza party lunch in the Upper School.

Members from the Everyone Loves Pizza club provided a variety of food options for the special needs classrooms. In addition to lots of pizza, there was also pasta, salad, fruit trays, cookies, and cake. There was a lot of food, and everything was delicious.

Members from Everyone Loves Pizza were paired with one to two students from the special needs classrooms. In addition to serving food, Country Day students had the opportunity to talk to the newcomers. Many students explained that prior to this event, they did not know what to do when they encountered someone “different.” By talking with those who had special needs, Country Day students learned what it is like to live with a disability.

“To me, they aren’t different people,” says Kendall Smith ’16. “We are all the same at the end of the day.”

Even though someone may have special needs, he or she can still live a happy life. While some of these children were in wheelchairs or were unable to talk, they could still smile. They could still laugh. They could still eat pizza and have fun– and that makes all the difference.

While club members were serving food, Mrs. Wietmarschen and the Upper School Saxophone Quartet performed two songs. After their performance, Vincent DiFrancesco ’18 played Adele’s “Hello” on the electric violin.

“The music was very soothing and uplifting,” explains Simone Burnett ’18, Co-Leader of Everyone Loves Pizza. “There was an extremely happy atmosphere, and everyone enjoyed the party.”

After serving the delicious pizza and listening to the wonderful music, club members continued their conversations with the special needs students. “They are just like us in a way,” says Burnett. “They go to school and they enjoy eating pizza. I really liked my conversation with them, and I was pleased to see how easy and fun it was to talk to them.”

Students enjoyed the pizza party, and Everyone Loves Pizza plans on doing something similar again. “This lunch shows just how altruistic in nature Everyone Loves Pizza is.” explained Ms. Floyd. “The club is about so much more than pizza. It is about being able to sit down and bridge the gap between eating and sharing with others.”

Everyone Loves Pizza teaches us how something as simple as food can bring smiles to both the sick and the healthy. We are all similar in that we all enjoy eating great food. After all, everyone loves pizza!

*Special Thanks to Mrs. Luebbers, Mrs. Owens, Mrs. Mapes, Mrs. Wietmarschen, and the Dining Staff for making this event possible.