Feeding the Need: Domino’s Team Members Step in to Serve Hurricane-Afflicted Communities
In the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Domino’s team members rallied together to feed the need in afflicted communities across the Southeast. As homes were damaged and local business operations interrupted, local franchisees and corporate team members stepped in to provide support and hot meals to those in need of it most.
“We wanted to help but knew we couldn’t go out and fix power lines, remove large debris, repair homes, etc. – what we could do though was make pizzas,” said Austin Putnam, a Domino’s franchisee in South Carolina. “We simply used the skill set we had to feed the first responders providing support to our community. Ensuring they had hot meals to eat just felt like the right thing to do.”
Domino’s is proud of the collective efforts made by team members who were able to provide local support in a time of uncertainty for so many. These efforts included deploying a mobile pizza kitchen to provide much needed meals, delivering pizzas to first responders serving those stricken by the storms, going the extra mile to ensure that stores were stocked and making sure supply chain centers were equipped to maintain operations safely.
“It was amazing to see so many Domino's team members and local community members work together to help each other in such a difficult time,” said Sumner and Taylor Patterson, Domino’s franchise co-presidents in North Carolina. “With the deployment of a mobile pizza kitchen and collaboration across franchises, we made and gave away more than 14,000 pizzas in over three days. Team members volunteered willingly and many of them brought water, diapers, baby wipes, dog food and more! Our No. 1 focus was to ensure our team members were safe and our communities were taken care of.”
Through teamwork, compassion and a sense of community, Domino’s team members put people first by not only providing food, but lifting spirits in the face of adversity.
“The outpouring of help and well wishes from the Domino’s community of franchisees and the corporate team was truly awe-inspiring and heartwarming,” said Osman Qasim, a Domino’s franchisee in North Carolina. “Despite the challenges of lack of water, power and cell service, our team members showed up to help serve free pizzas to the community in desperate need of hot food. The endless thank-you's and appreciation from the community to our team members leaves an indelible mark on us. This attitude of service and team spirit is in the DNA of a true cadre of caring individuals at Domino’s, who always rise to the occasion and give their best in putting the needs of their fellow team members and community first.”
Learn more about Domino’s purpose and values, including “Putting People First.”