Tuesday’s election is incredibly important — that much is obvious. And with that fact in mind and with the heightened social climate, many first-time voters have emerged and it seems that now, more than ever, people are urging others to do so. The past few weeks in the City of Brotherly Love have found many organizations giving Philadelphians an incentive to vote early, but with Nov. 3 swiftly approaching, another eatery has a tasty motive for those who go to the polls on Election Day.
Philadelphia restaurant owners Marlo and Jason Dilks decided to use their establishments—SliCE Fishtown and SliCE Italian Market—to serve voters this coming Tuesday. Both locations will be handing out free slices of pizza on Election Night between 5 and 7 p.m. outside six different polling places.
“SliCE is heading to the polls this Election Day with free pizzas at six polling places for those that are coming out during the pandemic and taking part in the process,” said owner Marlo Dilks in a statement. “This isn’t about who you are voting for or your individual politics. We should all exercise our choice and right to vote, and it’s especially challenging and brave to do so in person during the COVID-19 crisis.
“Our idea came about as we brainstormed to help those coming out in person, leaving the safety of work or their homes, and maybe didn’t have time to get a hot meal on the way. It’s a small gesture but our way of contributing to the process,” Dilks continued. “No matter who you are supporting, we are all in this together and we are all part of the process, and we want to do our part. We have seven young daughters at home and we teach them to get involved, speak their mind, be individuals and when it’s time to get out and vote. We want to be role models and have been teaching them about the process — and this is our way of doing something for our communities in both Fishtown and North Philadelphia, and in South Philadelphia.”
To find the different locations, the Dilks are going to use social media for input from the community. The couple chose to utilize their business for this particular cause to show their own family, which includes six daughters, to be civic-minded, especially during this year. The pizza will be given away by drivers wearing masks and shields, and everyone will be asked to remain at a social distance — the slices are also first-come, first served at each location. SliCE will then move on to the other locations when pies are done at the location prior.
But that’s not all SLiCE is offering come Nov. 3 — the popular pizza spots are also going to be including specials on top of their free slices.
“We want everyone to participate in the process and if this can make the process even a hair easier on hard-working parents, like us, we want to take part and give back,” Dilks continued in the statement. “We also want to offer specials that day that are discounted, simple and easy to pick up on your way to and from the polls — the specials are open to anyone and everyone that mentions them on Election Day. We realize other parents like us might be juggling home school, work and other priorities. If you are on the way from work and didn’t eat, we will have a small pie and drink for you at $10 each, including one topping. If you are on the way home from work, and you need dinner for your family, we want you to have an affordable option at $15 including two toppings and a two-liter bottle of soda (or two bottles of water).”
Election Day specials will be available from open to close, for take-out or delivery. Specials at both locations include: Stop on the Way to the Polls for a $10 small pie with one topping and choice of soda or water; or Stop to or from the Polls for a family special $15 large pie with two toppings and choice of soda (two-liter) or two bottles of water.
For more information and menus, visit slicepa.com
