Free-pizza philanthropy becomes hope-fired mission
US Army veteran shows up in wake of natural disasters to feed victims, volunteers
Brian Rock deftly slid a hand-tossed meat lovers’ pizza into the wood-fired oven on the bed of his red pickup truck.
“Just give it three or four minutes,” he said.
The 29-year-old pizza-maker from Merrillville had more time than usual on this Thursday evening at an outdoor summer market in Hobart. He’s had much busier days as co-owner of Elevated Pie Co., a mobile wood-fire pizza operation that opened last year. Two months ago, when Rock heard about tornadoes hitting the Naperville area, he made the decision to drive there to help feed victims or anyone who was hungry.
“Sorry, babe, I gotta go,” he told his fiance before hitting the road with enough supplies to feed a small army of victims and volunteers.
Rock made 350 pizza pies, giving them out free of charge. And free of any strings attached.
“It’s about warming people’s soul or brightening their day,” he said.
The experience gave him a taste of what
he wants to do full-time in life. Show up in the wake of natural disasters — storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires — and feed the victims, volunteers or anyone hungry for a gourmet pizza and a sincere smile.
“In Naperville, I was able to serve a lot of pizzas and also some smiles. It was fun,” Rock told me while waiting for my 12-inch pizza to bake in the oven.
“Service before self ” has become his life’s mantra since serving in the U.S. Army from 2012 to 2015, including a nine-month tour of duty in Afghanistan, he said. He returned home with service-related demons from post-traumatic stress disorder, he said.
“I had to figure out what to do with the rest of my life,” Rock said. “It took a few years after getting out, but the VA took care of me. I’m finally at a place where I’m able to get out more. I was heavily medicated for years and didn’t do much but sit around. I’ve found alternative forms of medication that work for me. But it limits my ability to work.”
Rock has sleep issues that continue to haunt his new mission.
“But this gets me out of the house, and helps relieve my stress,” he said. “Every day is a step forward.”
His business plan, in part, is to earn money from farmers markets to help fund his free-pizza philanthropy to others. (For more info, visit www.facebook.com/elevatedpieco or call 209-627-7625)
“This was just my first year doing this, so I’m still learning,” said Rock, whose pizza truck will be at a farmers market in Dyer on Tuesday. “I don’t make much money at these markets, but I get to meet people and give to the community. I really enjoyed helping at those natural disasters in Naperville and Iowa.”
Last year, Rock drove to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to make pizzas for victims of a derecho storm.
“They had no power, no water, no food, nothing,” he recalled. “They were happy to have me. I was happy to be there.”
Earlier this month, Indiana State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point, presented Rock an Outstanding Hoosier Award for delivering goodwill to others in need, from summer markets to disaster victims.
“Brian is a hero and an amazing person who creatively uses his skills to help others,” Olthoff said. “He is an example of what we could all do if we challenged ourselves to make a difference in the world. Food, in a time of crisis, can be a comfort. We should all strive to be more like Brian.”
At the Hobart market, a police officer strolled past Rock’s vendor booth.
“Are you hungry?” Rock asked out of habit. “Just let me know when you want a pizza.”
I asked Rock why he chose pizza as his main ingredient for goodwill. “It’s pizza,” he replied with a laugh. “People love pizza.”
Elevated Pie Co., named for elevating people’s spirits and bringing the best to the table, wasn’t created to make a lot of dough for his bank account. His booth’s tip jar, labeled “Good Karma,” reflects his attitude.
“I don’t need to be rich, or have an excess of wealth,” Rock, who said he receives monthly disability benefits from Uncle Sam, explained. “I don’t take a paycheck from my own company. Everything we earn goes back into feeding the community.”
His two part-time employees, Veronica Mendez and David Moes, earn paychecks in addition to the bonus of experiencing Rock’s free-pizza philanthropy in action. As Rock kept an eye on my pizza in the oven, Mendez collected money and Moes tossed pizza dough in the air.
“I learned how to do that on YouTube,” Rock joked.
He ordered his woodfired pizza oven from a company in Italy, getting it shipped to his home. It heats up to 900-degrees, which explains the speed to cook each pie in just three or four minutes. “Worth every penny,”
Rock said.
He uses locally-grown vegetables, his own recipes, and sourdough that ferments for flavor in the fridge for 48 hours. My
$15 pizza was scrumptious, with a delicious balance between taste and texture. (Watch a video of Rock making pizzas on my Facebook page, https:// www.facebook.com/ JerDavich/)
Rock’s short-term goal is to purchase an enclosed trailer with equipment for a larger operation.
“It’s hard to make pizzas in the rain,” he said while sliding another pie into the oven.
The California native wants to someday return there with his live-in fiancee, Kimberly Mehok.
“It’s a fun mission I’m working here and I can’t wait to see what the future holds in terms of giving back,” he said.