{"id":6810,"date":"2025-09-09T01:05:59","date_gmt":"2025-09-09T01:05:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/us-pizza-shop-owner-offers-free-food-after-discovering-signs-of-people-eating-from-dumpster\/"},"modified":"2025-09-09T01:05:59","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T01:05:59","slug":"us-pizza-shop-owner-offers-free-food-after-discovering-signs-of-people-eating-from-dumpster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/us-pizza-shop-owner-offers-free-food-after-discovering-signs-of-people-eating-from-dumpster\/","title":{"rendered":"US pizza shop owner offers free food after discovering signs of people eating from dumpster"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<h2>Pizza shop in US offers free meals after finding people dumpster diving<\/h2>\n<p>A pizza shop owner in the United States (US) has begun offering free meals to those in need after discovering that people were taking food from his restaurant&rsquo;s dumpster.<\/p>\n<p>Chris Kolstad, who runs Pizza Man in Columbia Heights, Minnesota said he was troubled to find signs that individuals were searching through the trash for discarded food.<\/p>\n<p>Rather than ignore the problem, he took to Facebook on 29 July with a public plea, inviting anyone in need to ask him directly for a meal.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_652034\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" readability=\"32\"><noscript><\/noscript>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-652034\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: Minnesota&rsquo;s Local News Group on Facebook<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>More than a month later, Mr Kolstad says he has already provided food to nearly 100 people who reached out.<\/p>\n<h3>Owner has seen signs of scavenging for years<\/h3>\n<p>Mr Kolstad told TODAY.com that the problem is not new.<\/p>\n<div class=\"internal-linking-related-contents\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/12-weeks-jail-for-school-it-support-technician-who-took-upskirt-videos-of-teachers\/\" class=\"template-1\"><span class=\"cta\">News :<\/span><span class=\"postTitle\">&lt;div&gt;12 weeks' jail for school IT support technician who took upskirt videos of teachers&lt;\/div&gt;<\/span><\/a><\/div><p>&ldquo;Pretty much from day one&rdquo; of taking over the pizzeria nearly six years ago, he began noticing evidence that people were rummaging through the dumpster for food.<\/p>\n<p>He would often find discarded pizza boxes alongside empty water bottles and used napkins &mdash; clues that made it clear the scavenging was by people, not animals.<\/p>\n<p>In recent months, however, the incidents have become more frequent.<\/p>\n<p>On the very day he made his Facebook post, his cook spotted a woman eating garlic cheese bread she had taken from the trash in front of the shop.<\/p>\n<h3>Serving up a slice of kindness<\/h3>\n<p>In his Facebook post, Mr Kolstad appealed directly to those taking food from the dumpster, urging them to come to him instead.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Please do not eat out of our dumpster. Nobody deserves that. If you are that desperate for food, please come ask,&rdquo; he wrote.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_651362\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" readability=\"32\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-651362\" class=\"wp-image-651362 size-full lazyload\" alt=\"pizza shop dumpster free facebook\" width=\"736\" height=\"652\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-3.jpg 736w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-3-600x532.jpg 600w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-3-150x133.jpg 150w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 736px) 100vw, 736px\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-3.jpg\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-651362\" class=\"wp-image-651362 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-3.jpg\" alt=\"pizza shop dumpster free facebook\" width=\"736\" height=\"652\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-3.jpg 736w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-3-600x532.jpg 600w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-3-150x133.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 736px) 100vw, 736px\"><\/noscript>\n<div class=\"internal-linking-related-contents\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/migrant-acquitted-in-first-trial-over-us-border-military-zones\/\" class=\"template-1\"><span class=\"cta\">News :<\/span><span class=\"postTitle\">Migrant acquitted in first trial over US border military zones<\/span><\/a><\/div><p id=\"caption-attachment-651362\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: Sunny Skyz on Facebook<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>For those too embarrassed, he offered the option of leaving a note or calling so he could discreetly set aside a small pizza or leftovers.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_651360\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" readability=\"32\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-651360\" class=\"wp-image-651360 size-full lazyload\" alt=\"pizza shop dumpster free alley\" width=\"560\" height=\"747\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-1.jpg 560w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-1-450x600.jpg 450w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-1-112x150.jpg 112w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-1.jpg\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-651360\" class=\"wp-image-651360 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-1.jpg\" alt=\"pizza shop dumpster free alley\" width=\"560\" height=\"747\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-1.jpg 560w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-1-450x600.jpg 450w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-1-112x150.jpg 112w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\"><\/noscript>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-651360\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: Heights Pizza Man via TODAY.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>His message struck a chord in the community, and local residents and even nearby businesses began stepping forward to help.<\/p>\n<p>Within days, donations began arriving, and by early August Mr Kolstad had raised more than US$3,000 (S$3,900).<\/p>\n<p>A month later, the amount had grown to about US$4,000 (S$5,100).<\/p>\n<p>Part of the funds were directed to Southern Anoka Community Assistance (SACA), a food bank serving Columbia Heights and surrounding areas.<\/p>\n<h3>&lsquo;I can&rsquo;t sit in a building full of food &amp; watch somebody starve&rsquo;<\/h3>\n<p>Mr Kolstad also shared a note from a large family who had received his help, thanking him for providing food during a difficult time.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_651361\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" readability=\"32\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-651361\" class=\"wp-image-651361 size-full lazyload\" alt=\"pizza shop dumpster free note\" width=\"560\" height=\"761\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-2.jpg 560w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-2-442x600.jpg 442w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-2-110x150.jpg 110w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-2.jpg\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-651361\" class=\"wp-image-651361 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-2.jpg\" alt=\"pizza shop dumpster free note\" width=\"560\" height=\"761\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-2.jpg 560w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-2-442x600.jpg 442w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pizza-shop-dumpster-free-2-110x150.jpg 110w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\"><\/noscript>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-651361\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: Heights Pizza Man via TODAY.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Reflecting on why he felt compelled to act, Mr Kolstad said:<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"8\">\n<p>You&rsquo;re sitting outside, you got nothing to eat and somebody&rsquo;s willing to hand you something hot and fresh as opposed to straight out of the trash? I imagine that makes a pretty big difference in your day.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Although he has never faced hunger himself, Mr Kolstad says he has worked alongside people who have &mdash; and that experience shaped his decision.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t sit in a building full of food and watch somebody starve in my parking lot,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3378\" data-end=\"3520\"><strong>Also read: S&rsquo;poreans &amp; M&rsquo;sians order food to support Indonesian delivery riders affected by protests<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"o74CdjpD0S\" readability=\"0\">\n<p>S&rsquo;poreans &amp; M&rsquo;sians order food to support Indonesian delivery riders affected by protests<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><em>Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at&nbsp;news@mustsharenews.com.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Featured image adapted from Minnesota&rsquo;s Local News Group on Facebook and&nbsp;Heights Pizza Man via TODAY.com.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><!-- CONTENT END 1 --><\/p><\/div>\n<p><sub>US pizza shop owner offers free food after discovering signs of people eating from dumpster<\/sub><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pizza shop in US offers free meals after finding people dumpster diving A pizza shop owner in the United States (US) has begun offering free meals to those in need after discovering that people were taking food from his restaurant&rsquo;s dumpster. Chris Kolstad, who runs Pizza Man in Columbia Heights, Minnesota said he was troubled&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/us-pizza-shop-owner-offers-free-food-after-discovering-signs-of-people-eating-from-dumpster\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &ldquo;US pizza shop owner offers free food after discovering signs of people eating from dumpster&rdquo;<\/span> &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6811,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6810","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6810","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6810"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6810\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6811"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6810"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6810"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6810"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}