Warwick, RI Delivers Rally for Don’s Pizza
The Warwick community is rallying for Donald Ryan, an owner of Don’s Pizza, that’s been a part of Warwick for many decades. Donald Ryan, is battling stage four cancer and because of chemotherapy, medical and business bills, he will be selling the pizza shop.
https://www.abc6.com/warwick-community-rallying-around-longtime-pizza-shop-owner-battling-cancer/
As a team, we have felt compelled to start this fundraiser because of the love that has been expressed for Don from the youngest to the oldest members of the Warwick community.
During distance teaching, a 6-year-old student and Warwick resident, Ben, had often initiated a conversation with Alicia Rathbun about his love of Don’s Pizza. He had even typed the phone number in the chat and said that she had to write down the number and call soon to order the sausage pizza because it is the best! The next time they had met, he had asked her if she had called yet and being a resident of Northern RI, she had reluctantly asked, “What should I do if I don’t live nearby?” He then proceeded to say, “Use Google Maps”!
Meanwhile, a long-time resident of Warwick, Joanne Miller’s 89-year-old mother wanted a pizza. Joanne dialed up Don's Pizza and the phone kept saying it “could not be connected”. Thinking it may have been closed due to Covid-19, she checked to see if there were any recent reviews....and there were, so she figured she’d drop by to order a pizza and tell him his phone wasn't working. There were lights on but the door was locked. Seeing a gentleman inside, she knocked on the front door. She told him about the phone and he had said that he knew and he probably won’t be to open for a while and that he was actually selling the place. Then without her asking he said..... "Because I have stage 4 cancer and need to get my house in order". He then proceeded to let her know he was very frightened about the chemo and that this time next week he will have no hair and will probably not be able to stand in the place he was talking to her in and had worked for the past 42 years. She asked him if he was a believer and ready to meet his Maker. He answered, “Yes” and told him she would be praying for him. Joanne told this story in a Warwick Facebook Group and asked, “Warwick, can we now all pray together for a miracle for Don? Or, if God has chosen that this be his time- that he at least bears the chemo well and is able to live his last days in relative comfort and peace.” She rallied members of the Warwick Community to drop a card in the mail wishing him well and thanking him for what some of us knew was the best pizza in town for 42 years. The response was overwhelming with TV stations broadcasting Don’s story, but that’s not the end! Don needs our help! Due to Covid he has mounting business bills and medical bills.
Can you please help this wonderful icon of Warwick, RI who gave us friendship, love, and kindness with every pizza he served? Let’s deliver to Don the kind of love that he has been delivering at his pizza shop for decades in Warwick by giving back and helping him with his medical and business bills and offering him peace and comfort with his loved ones! Whether you are a longtime member of Warwick like Joanne or live elsewhere like Alicia, let’s come together from the youngest to the oldest to spread kindness! All fundraising efforts are appreciated! Please consider sharing or donating.
Please check out the latest interview about Don’s story and how Joanne and Alicia came together to help spread the word:
