Shortly after the partial government shutdown began, &pizza announced it would be giving furloughed federal employees a free pizza pie during lunchtime, inspired by the offer from D.C. chef and humanitarian José Andrés. The local fast casual chain had given away more than 6,000 free pies in that time, as long lines snaked around its storefronts.

It didn’t take a week before &pizza switched its offer to dinnertime from lunch—“Getting adjustments to our tribe schedule and to our offer allowed us to accommodate our paying guests,” Vanessa Rodriguez, head of brand at &pizza, explained to DCist two weeks ago. Then, shortly after that, &pizza switched the hours again and started offering $5 pies to federal contractors as well.

As of this week, &pizza announced that, after handing out more than 20,000 free pizzas to feds, it was retiring its deal and switching gears. The company is now partnering with Andrés’ emergency kitchen for federal workers. Run by his non-profit World Central Kitchen, the space opened in mid-January, serving hot meals every day from 11 a.m. through 6 p.m. at at 701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. We believe this is a national food emergency,” Andrés said in a video announcing the #ChefsForFeds venture. In its first day alone, World Central Kitchen announced it had served 4,400 meals—double its expectation.

Now, &pizza has also opened a second #ChefsForFeds kitchen at its Broccoli Bar outpost in Shaw, where the company is giving out free pizza to furloughed feds from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It remains fully staffed with &pizza employees.

Rodriguez says over email that &pizza “continued to evolve our offer throughout the shutdown to be as inclusive as possible, operationally sound, and ultimately to set ourselves up for success in the long term so we can financially sustain our support as long as people are out of work.”

The average pie at &pizza costs approximately $10.75 before tax, so 20,000 free pies equals about $215,000 worth of pizza.

Rodriguez says the first few days “have gone well and we’re gradually seeing increased foot traffic as the word spreads about our new partnership and location.” Additionally, after &pizza sent out an email to customers on Tuesday, 350 people replied with requests to volunteer. Those requests were forwarded along to World Central Kitchen, which is expanding its effort to feed furloughed workers nationwide.

Previously:
José Andrés Is Setting Up An Emergency Kitchen To Feed People Affected By The Shutdown
What Happens When You Offer Furloughed Feds Free Pizza For Weeks?