Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Pizzeria Borrows to Keep Workers on Job, Spurs Donations

Associated Press

   This is a story about bosses and their workers, in the dark days of
   COVID-19. It's also a story about how one good turn deserves another
   and yet another.

   And this being New Jersey, it's also a story about pizza.

   Bryan Morin and his brother Michael operate Federico's Pizza in the
   Jersey Shore town of Belmar. In the summer, they deliver cheesesteak
   pizzas and 12-inch subs and garlic knots directly to the beach, a few
   blocks away. In winter, customers flock to the cozy,
   black-and-white-tiled restaurant on Main Street.

   But across the ocean, trouble brewed. Bryan Morin tossed and turned all
   night after watching news reports of how a virus spread rapidly in
   Italy, eventually bringing life to a virtual standstill and leading to
   massive layoffs as businesses closed down.

   He could not let this happen at Federico's.

   Many of his employees have been with the business for a decade or more;
   the head cook has been there for 22 years, since the business was owned
   by Bryan and Michael's father.

   "I'm the provider for my employees; I supply their salary, and if they
   don't have a salary, they won't be able to afford their rent, their
   credit card bills, their insurance, their gas," he said.

.