Pizza for the homeless: Condemned man’s last request denied by state, realized by public

He was the third inmate to be executed by lethal injection in Tennessee since 1976, when the state reinstated the death penalty.

In lieu of a last meal, Workman requested that a vegetarian pizza be given to any homeless person near the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution where he was incarcerated. The prison authorities refused, stating that they did not give to charities.

After a local newspaper, the Tennessean, wrote about the condemned man’s request being denied, a spontaneous movement erupted citywide. Homeless shelters across Nashville were inundated with donated pizzas all Wednesday.

The pizzas were greatly appreciated. “I was like, wow, Jesus!” commented Marvin Champion, an employee of Nashville’s Rescue Mission, which provides overnight shelter, food and assistance to more than 800 homeless people a night. “This really shows the people here that someone out there thought of them.”

Area resident Donna Spangler heard about Workman’s request and immediately called her friends. They all pitched in for the $1,200 bill to buy 150 pizzas, which they sent to the Rescue Mission. “Philip Workman was trying to do a good deed and no one would help him,” said the 55-year-old, who recruited a co-worker to help her make the massive delivery Wednesday evening. “I just felt like I had to do something positive.”

The president of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals ordered 15 veggie pizzas and had them sent to the Rescue Mission Wednesday morning. “Workman’s act was selfless, and kindness to all living beings is a virtue,” said PETA President Ingrid Newkirk.

Not far away, 17 pizzas arrived at Nashville’s Oasis Center, a shelter that helps about 260 teenagers in crisis. By 9 p.m., more pizzas had arrived, executive director Hal Cato reported. “We talked to the kids and they understand what this is tied to and they know that this man [Workman] wanted to do something to point out the problems of homelessness.”

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http://wsws.org/articles/2007/may2007/tenn-m16.shtml