Glory!!! (Almost)

Location: Boss’ Pizza and Chicken,

2111 South Minnesota Avenue, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

We arrived promptly one hour and thirty minutes prior to our scheduled appointment at Boss’ Pizza. They warned us, of the 18 teams that had attempted the Boss Hog Challenge, only two were victorious, one of which consisted of two college football players. We looked unassuming, at best. We asked about local charities in need because if we won, we were going to donate the $200 worth of food certificates to someone in need. We then left to explore around Sioux Falls a bit and prepare our minds for the undertaking of glory (almost). Upon our return, we took our seat at a booth whose table could barely contain the six pound, 28-inch, three-topping monster of doom. One hour later, Kevin and I had managed to eat 40 of the 56 pieces but failed to take down the ultimate adversary, the Boss Hog. Although we may not have won the challenge, we still wanted to purchase food certificates to give them to local organizations in need. We bought $160 worth of certificates, but the owners Heidi and Jeremy graciously offered to not only comp our pizza, but to match our planned donation. They sent us out into Sioux Falls with full stomachs, a list of worthy organizations, leftover pizza, and $320 in food certificates to Boss’. Heidi and Jeremy run a fine fine establishment.

The first organization we chose was The Children’s Inn, a safe house for victims of domestic abuse. The Children’s Inn takes in battered women and children and provides them with a stable and secure environment that promotes a family atmosphere. Support and love is found everywhere at The Children’s Inn, from the set up of the family and teen and toddler rooms, to the backyard playhouse and, most importantly, a small but enthusiastic and caring staff. We had the good fortune to meet two of the staff members, Stacy and Amanda. Amanda lead us on a tour of the Inn and we were able to see and feel the camaraderie between its occupants. In interest of the occupants’ safety, we can’t post any photos of the families at the Inn. Amanda was so excited to receive the $200 to Boss’ so she could host a back-to-school pizza party for the kids as school resumes on Monday.

After leaving the Inn, we went to Sioux Falls’ Ronald McDonald House, an affordable home away from home that offers a place of respite for families whose members are in surrounding hospitals for extended periods of time. We gave them $100 to go towards meals for visiting families on a low budget.

With the last twenty we thought we would just make a stranger’s day, so we gave it to a family leaving a local hotel.

And the fate of the pizza? Kevin and Alex spotted a homeless man sleeping at a bus stop, so Kevin hopped out and offered him the remaining pound of pizza. Upon opening the box, the man gasped and accepted it gladly.