WRCP Weekly | Solving for Patience: A Pizza Night Equation

[just elLA]

 Dear West River Friends,

In a world where truth can feel elusive, there’s one thing we can count on—the math does not lie. So here’s a slice of Friday Pizza Night truth, told in units of time.

Every Friday, we fire up the oven at 1PM to serve you at 5PM. And then...

• On a good night, we serve 200+ pizzas
• The oven fits ~8 pizzas at a time 
• At peak heat, a pizza cooks in about 90 seconds
• As the oven cools, that time stretches to 3+ minutes per pizza

The math-don't-lie numbers:

• 200 pizzas ÷ 8 at a time = 25 batches 
• 25 batches x 1.5 to 3 minutes = 38 to 75 minutes of cook time alone

That’s just the cooking time—not including prep, order flow, or the human side of the equation. So if it feels like your pizza is taking a while, it is not personal. It is just math. And as much as we have tried, we have not yet found a way to bend time or override the laws of physics.

We get it—waiting can be frustrating. And just maybe this an opportunity to reverse the view—what if there was no wait and just community connection seen in the space between. You write the story. What story do you tell yourself?

We will work towards sharing estimated wait times better and if you are on a tight schedule, please ask. We also ask, if you witness someone speaking unkindly to a staff or volunteer, please say something. This project only works if we all keep it kind. 

Knowledge is power and now you have the power! We are not a restaurant. We are a nonprofit doing our best to nourish community—body and connection—one custom pizza at a time.

Pizza Night runs on 70% volunteers. If you are feeling frustrated, we invite you to try the other side. Volunteer and see what it takes to serve a community. Email dire...@westtownshend.org for opportunities (pizza night & beyond...).

We are grateful you are here. Please help our staff and volunteers feel the same that we offer you.

Keep it kind,

The WRCProject

----

EVENT SPECIALS | Week of JULY 21, 2025

FAMILY TUESDAY | 5-7PM

: Salsa burger with bacon and cheddar cheese

: Local burgers (cheese and/or bacon optional) 

: Veggie burgers 

Music: Michael Stridsberg

WOOD FIRED FRIDAY PIZZA | 5-7PM 

: Ham and pineapple with garlic sauce 

Music: Sunny Lowdown