New Lenox pizza contest a huge success!

The Community Board of The Cancer Support Center held their first ever best pizza contest on January 21 at the New Lenox VFW Hall, with 11 participating pizza establishments competing for ‘best’ cheese, sausage, pepperoni, and specialty. The public was invited out to sample pizza and vote for their favorite. The turnout was tremendous and the pizza delicious. 

With pizza donated by Aurelio's, Beggar's Pizza, Chicago Dough Company, Italian Fiesta Pizzeria, Little Joe's, Marchelloni, Nancy's Pizza, Papa Joe's, Paisano's Pizza, Pizza King, and Pizza Mia,  it’s no surprise that every seat was taken before the event even started. Attendees were given a 2 part ballot, one to vote with and turn in, the other to keep for future pizza ordering. Pizza was served on plates with a colored mark on it, and people marked by color on the ballot which was their favorite since no names were used during the event.  

So who had the ‘best’? Little Joe’s took the honor of Best Cheese Pizza, Beggars Pizza won Best Pepperoni Pizza, and Papa Joe’s took two categories with the Best Sausage Pizza and Best Specialty Pizza. With over 300 attendees, votes were spread fairly evenly in all four categories. Those who won did so by just a handful of votes. I think it’s safe to say that if you want great pizza, you can’t go wrong with any of the participants. 

The event brought in over $3800 for The Cancer Support Center, while providing awareness to the New Lenox community that The Center is there to serve them as well. Our success wouldn’t be possible without the support of VFW Post 9545 & Women’s Auxiliary Post 9545, Rago & Associates, Town Center Bank, Good Time DJ/Mobile Beat Service, Rachael Gianares - Rachael Cooks, EmbroidMe, Toni McEathron - The Longaberger Company, Jurgens & Realtors, and Wizard Home Organizing. 

 We are also grateful to all the pizza establishments who provided the pizza, pizza warmers, and offered/gave their help to ensure our success. If it wasn’t for each and every one of you it wouldn’t have been possible to have such an event. We are also grateful for all of our amazing volunteers who worked like a well-oiled machine to serve up 142 extra-large pizzas to 300 people in under an hour. You did an outstanding job of keeping everything going. We also would like to thank everyone who loves New Lenox pizza for attending our event, and we hope you had a great time.  

The Cancer Support Center, with locations in Homewood and Mokena, provides FREE comprehensive resources that help people improve their quality of life during the cancer experience.  Founded in 1994, to bring people a sense of emotional support, understanding and peace throughout their cancer journey; The Cancer Support Center still continues to affirm the health, hope and healing aspect of the human spirit.  For more information on their programs and services, please visit their web site at www.CancerSupportCenter.org. You may also call (708) 798-9171 for the Homewood location or (708) 478-3529 for the Mokena location.

Tim Howe

Community Board Member

The Cancer Support Center