A Mano Launches Pizza “Doughnation” Program to Benefit Local Charities

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood, New Jersey’s premiere authentic Neapolitan trattoria A Mano, has proudly introduced a pizza program to benefit local charities. In the “Pizza in Sospeso” (so-SPEY-zo) initiative, customers can purchase a full size Margherita pizza at half price for $6, to be donated to help feed the less fortunate. Each time twenty five pizzas are purchased, A Mano will deliver the Pizzas in Sospeso to a diferent regional charity.

The pizza-giving drive was inspired by a long-standing tradition of cofee donating in the cafes of Naples, Italy. A café sospeso, Italian for “suspended cofee”, is a cup of cofee paid for in advance as an anonymous act of charity. A patron who experienced good luck would order a sospeso, paying for two cofees but only consuming one. A needy person would then be served a complimentary café sospeso.Said head Pizzaiolo Michele D’Amelio, “At A Mano we are all about the traditions of Naples. Bringing the idea of sospeso to pizza is a great way to give back to the community and help the needy. No one should have to worry about where their next meal is going to come from. We’re trying to do our part to lessen that pressure and bring smiles to people’s faces during the holiday season.”

The pizza-providing program which debuted on December 9th, has already surpassed A Mano’s expectations. Added D’Amelio, “In one day our customers purchased the first twenty-five pizzas.

We keep a tally on a board in the restaurant so everyone can see how many pizzas need to be bought to reach the next goal of twenty-five. It’s exciting and a such a gratifying feeling to know we can help care for people in need.”

The initial group of charitable pizza recipients include: Youth Consultation Service in Hackensack, Eva’s Village in Paterson, Center for Food Action in Mahwah and Family Promise of Bergen County.

The drive is slated to run though the first week of the new year, however, if the program’s success continues, the end date will be extended indefinitely.

A Mano is located at 24 Franklin Avenue (at Chestnut Street), Ridgewood, NJ. Hours of operation are: Monday through Thursday, 11:30AM–10:00PM, Friday and Saturday 11:30AM-11:00PM and Sunday

12:30PM–9:00PM. Tel. 201.493.2000, www.amanopizza.com, www.facebook.com/AManoPizza, @AManoPizza.