Hi everyone, and thank you for taking the time to read this and support Abellson Pizza Co.

This project did not start as a business idea. It grew out of years I spent involved in homeless outreach in downtown St. Louis. Spending time in tent cities and under overpasses, and listening to people who are often overlooked reshaped how I think about dignity, work, and opportunity. I met people with real talent and potential who lacked access, not worth.

That experience stayed with me. I wanted to build something real and sustainable, rooted in respect rather than charity, and capable of creating opportunity over time. A business that existed to help provide a path to help the unhoused community get back on their feet.

Pizza is where that vision took shape. I learned to make it as a kid alongside my dad, standing on a chair just to reach the counter. What began as a family tradition grew into a serious craft through years of studying baking science, fermentation, and dough development.

Today, Abellson Pizza Co. is officially operating. We will be actively serving at farmers markets and community events, with real customers and growing momentum. This is no longer an idea. It is a working business.

Getting here required a significant personal financial investment. Before serving a single pizza, I covered the upfront costs needed to operate legally and responsibly, including equipment, permits, licenses, insurance, certifications, commissary kitchen access, ingredients, and vendor fees.

This fundraiser is not about launching something new. It is about supporting what is already in motion. Donations help offset early startup costs so Abellson Pizza Co. can remain stable, continue operating, engage with local nonprofit homeless outreaches, and grow without everything resting on personal debt.

Your contribution helps:

Ease the financial strain of essential startup expenses

Support continued participation in farmers markets and community outreach events

Strengthen the foundation of a growing small business

Keep the focus on quality, consistency, and community impact

Every donation, no matter the amount, truly helps. Your support makes it possible for Abellson Pizza Co. to keep showing up, serving the community, and building toward a sustainable future.

Thank you for reading, sharing, and supporting. It genuinely means a great deal.