The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
PIZZA CHALLENGE WITH A TWIST
Elyria Sunrise Rotary takes annual pizza challenge to the road
Drive-thru, all-you-can-eat pizza was all the rage June 14 during the 20th annual Pizza Challenge, put on by the Elyria
Sunrise Rotary.
For $20, residents could feed a car full of family at nine locations and pizza shops in Elyria, including Cozzeria’s Pizzeria, Sambino’s Pizza, Angelina’s Pizza, Foundry Kitchen & Bar, Marco’s Pizza,
Pizza Hut, Valley of the Eagles, Lorain County Community College and Papa John’s Pizza.
Those who purchased and picked up their tickets at the Nick Abraham Auto Mall, 1111 E. Broad St. in Elyria, were able to drive through pop-up shops at each of the locations and take some samples to try.
“It really is a great community, familyoriented event and it brings people together. With this year being unique, modern problems come (with) modern solutions.”
— Maggie Rivera-Tuma, rotary member and one of the event organizers
“This year we were unsure if our annual event would be possible due to the pandemic, but in Rotarians fashion, we came up with a creative solution,” said rotary club president Sam Speck in a news release. “We hope that this will give families in Elyria and around the county something enjoyable to do as they travel around the city and try out some of the best pizza around.”
Additionally, the price of the event was lowered this year to accommodate those hit hardest by the novel coronavirus pandemic, according to Maggie RiveraTuma, rotary member and
one of the event organizers.
After the event, participants were encouraged to visit elyriasunriserotary. com to vote for their favorite pizza.
The pizza shop with the most votes will win a trophy, which Elyria Sunrise Rotary gives out every year.
Rivera-Tuma said the event usually brings in between 500 and 800 people each year.
This year, the target ticket sale goal was 250.
Nearly 50 people volunteered to hand out the pizzas.
Money raised through the event will go to the city of Elyria to help residents, as well as Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio.
“It really is a great community, family-oriented
event, and it brings people together,” Rivera-Tuma said. “With this year being unique, modern problems come (with) modern solutions.”
Even within the first half hour of the event, Elyria Mayor Frank Whitfield said a steady line of cars were coming through many of the pizza stops.
“At this (Marco’s) stop, people have already gone to a pizza place already,” he said. “So we’re getting good feedback.”
Participants were also taking different approaches to the event, according to Rivera-Tuma.
“Its interesting the different strategies that people have, because some people are waiting until the end to eat them all or eating them as they go,” she said.