By Meagan Barrett ‘15

In Philadelphia, a former Wall Street worker has left his wealthy life behind to start a pizza restaurant called Rosa’s. Aside from having unusually low prices (1 slice is only 1 dollar), Rosa’s has become famous for feeding the homeless. Because the prices are so low, it’s an option for people to buy a second piece, called a “Little Rosa,” which they don’t actually receive. Instead they put a sticky note on a wall in the restaurant. Homeless people in the area are then welcome to come in, take a sticky note from the wall up to the register and get a pre-paid slice of pizza.

Too many people nowadays demonize the idea of giving “handouts” to those less fortunate, because taking it through taxes makes the giving forced. However, giving voluntarily changes the mentality from being indignant and instead encourages generosity. This practice is harmless to companies, seeing as the item is paid for either way, and it is a way of positively sanctioning the act of giving. In order to improve society’s attitude towards helping others, this is a practice that should be made more common.