Have a heart this Valentine’s Day – a heart-shaped pizza, that is.
For one day only on Feb. 14, Boston Pizza will be serving heart-shaped pizzas with $1 from the sale of each pizza going to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
So, if you’re still searching for something to do with your sweetheart, why not plan on dining out at Boston Pizza where festively dressed staff will serve the novelty pizzas to help raise money for charity.
Individual, small and medium heart-shaped pizza’s available in any Boston Pizza variety can be ordered for dine-in, take-out or delivery. This means you could mix up a Valentine’s tradition and send that special someone a pizza instead of flowers.
Nationally, Boston Pizza hopes to raise $600,000 while the local Merritt franchise has set a goal of raising $1,000 to contribute to the charity.
This goal includes the paper hearts that have been available at Boston Pizza since mid-January. Guests have the option of donating $1 for a red, pink, or purple paper heart to write a Valentine’s message to someone special, and once again the proceeds go towards the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
As of Thursday, just over $500 had been raised through the sale of hearts, which decorate the restaurant, and co-owner Leanne Dixon said she is optimistic they will meet their goal.
“The town has been really supportive,” said Dixon. “On a national basis according to head office, per capita Merritt is keeping up with some of the cities that are selling, so that’s really impressive for a small town.”
In Boston Pizza Merritt’s first year, staff with the help of the community managed to raise about $3000 through the heart campaign to contribute to the charity.
Dixon said that she and her husband Gary have also extended a challenge for local businesses to make donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation as well. A chart displayed at the restaurant’s entrance will list business’s contributions in increments of $50.
Or perhaps businesses could offer a Valentine’s Day pizza party for the office.
In any case with the countdown on to Feb. 14, Dixon said staff are preparing for a busy Valentine’s Day, adding that the novelty pizzas are fun, but she hopes that the focus will be on the charity.
“It’s great to see people actually purchase the pizzas knowing that’s where the proceeds are going,” she said.