Elk Grove group sends more pizzas to troops

There is nothing like a slice of home to make soldiers feel appreciated, and one Elk Grove Village resident is interpreting that idea quite literally.

For the past three years Pizzas 4 Patriots, led by retired Air Force Master Sgt. Mark Evans, has sent over 60,000 pizzas to help military personnel on duty in the Middle East mark Independence Day.

Evans started the organization to deliver Chicago’s deep-dish pizza to soldiers serving abroad. As a veteran of 26 years in the Air Force, he understands the significance of receiving even small gifts from home.

“Getting something from home is motivation enough for soldiers,” he said. “I want them to know we’re here and thinking of them.”

This year, for the first time, the program also is sending pizzas to Canadian troops in Afghanistan to help them celebrate Canadian Independence Day on July 1.

With this delivery, the pizza program is dubbed “Operation Greatest Generation,” acknowledging this newest generation of soldiers. It is also a way for Americans to thank those serving overseas on the day we mark the nation’s independence.

“Think about it, when you wake up on the Fourth of July and have your morning coffee, you can think about how your donation sent a pizza to a soldier halfway across the world,” Evans said.

Pizzas 4 Patriots is a nonprofit organization accepting donations online at Pizzas4Patriots.com. Donations are used to purchase pizzas, while DHL ships the meals for free.