TOLEDO – Customers at Schmucker’s Restaurant made raising money for charity as easy as pie.
On March 13, also known as National Pi Day, $1 of every pie sale was donated to the Cherry Street Mission, regardless of whether customers bought a whole pie or just a slice.
It wasn’t by coincidence that the fundraiser took place on National Pi Day, which has occurred every March 13 since 1988, when physicist Larry Shaw, a staff member at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, linked the date March 14 (3/14) with the first three digits of pi (3.14).
Schmucker’s Restaurant owner Doug Schmucker said the fundraiser, going on for more than a decade, is a way to give back to the community.
“Our relationship with God is foundational to who we are,” he said. “We feel called to give back. This is our 77th year [in business] and we wouldn’t be at this place without the support of the community. And what better way to say thank you to the community than to give back to the community and give back to Cherry Street Mission?”
But Schmucker’s Restaurant was not the only business that gave back on Pi Day.
Savage and Associates, a financial advising company in Maumee, agreed to match Schmucker’s Restaurant’s donations dollar-for-dollar. Together, the businesses raised $5,000 ($2,500 + $2,500) for the mission this year.
This is the fifth year Savage Associates has supported the pi day event, which started after Schmucker asked his friend from the gym, Sean Savage, if he would like to participate.
Cherry Street Mission offers a variety of services for members of the Toledo community. According to their website, “Cherry Street Mission endlessly seeks to eradicate poverty of the body, soul and spirit by connecting individuals to the resources they need, creating health and community sustainability.”
“Cherry Street Mission is in the work of bringing people up out of difficult situations, which in turn makes our community a better place,” Schmucker said.
Schmucker’s customer Dean Barton was one of many who came to support the fundraiser by purchasing pie with his meal.
“I support the Cherry Street Mission,” said Barton. “I know people who have been to the Cherry Street Mission. They come out sober.”
Barton said he planned to order two or three flavors of pie, deliberating between the cherry crumb, cheesecake and Dutch apple pies.
Schmucker said this is the first year they have held the fundraiser on National Pi Day, rather than National Pie Day, which is on January 23. While last year he said they had 100 pies leftover, this year they made more. They sold out by 4 p.m. and had to make more to keep up with all the orders.
Due to this year’s success, Schmucker said they will likely hold the fundraiser on Pi Day next year.
“I wanted to make it more impactful for Cherry Street. I mean, it’s not about Schmucker’s, right? Sure, it’s fun to eat pie. But it’s about Cherry Street and what they do for our community,” he said.
Pie/Pi Day is not the only fundraiser Schmucker’s Restaurant does, however.
Schmucker said their other fundraisers have been for Sunshine Children’s Home, a facility which helps support children with medically complex needs. Their last fundraiser was during Schmucker’s Restaurant’s 75th year in business, where 75 percent of proceeds went to support Sunshine.
Schmucker said when Schmucker’s Restaurant reaches their 80th year in business, they plan to do a fundraiser where 80 percent of the proceeds go to Sunshine.
Though Schmucker said the restaurant has donated to other organizations, the Cherry Street Mission and Sunshine fundraisers are the most significant.
“Those are the two big ones that are near and dear to my heart,” Schmucker said.
