A local pizza shop in Ocala faced a setback during a fundraiser for a high school student severely injured in a car accident, but the community’s response was nothing short of remarkable.
WiseGuys Pizzeria had committed to donating 20% of its proceeds on Wednesday to support a North Marion High School student, Hailey Crawford, who is currently hospitalized due to a car crash on May 14. According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, during the fundraiser, a fraudulent order for $500 worth of pizzas was placed. The caller never arrived to pay or collect the food, and attempts to contact them were unsuccessful.
“This cruel act affects not just their business, but also the fundraising efforts for the student and her family,” the sheriff’s office stated in a Facebook post.
Hailey Crawford, the beneficiary of the fundraiser, has been in the hospital for weeks with severe injuries, including a traumatic brain injury and a collapsed lung. Her mother, Brandi Cassels, has been sharing updates on Hailey’s condition and the family’s need for support.
Following the news of the scam, the community quickly mobilized to support WiseGuys Pizzeria. The sheriff’s office encouraged locals to help the pizzeria, and the response was overwhelming.
“WiseGuys is a family-owned small pizzeria, they trust people. This is so unfortunate …” one Facebook user commented. “Guess I know what’s for dinner tonight.”
In less than a day, WiseGuys Pizzeria experienced record-breaking sales, thanks to the community’s solidarity. The pizzeria expressed its gratitude on Facebook, thanking Sheriff Billy Woods and his staff for highlighting the incident, which led to an outpouring of support.
“A thousand thank yous to Sheriff Billy Woods and his generous staff for bringing attention to the selfish prank we experienced last night at WiseGuys,” the pizzeria wrote. “Because of the MCSO post, we experienced an outpouring of loving support from our community.”
Ultimately, WiseGuys Pizzeria donated over $3,000 to Hailey Crawford’s family.
“Our small town really showed up today,” Cassels wrote in a Facebook group dedicated to her daughter’s recovery. “I will be forever grateful for WiseGuys Pizzeria and the community of Marion County.”