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| Takeaway owner says free pizzas offer has been 'very stressful' | Takeaway owner says free pizzas offer has been 'very stressful' |
| (1 day later) | |
| Marc Wilkinson said although he has found the act of kindness stressful he is still glad he did it | Marc Wilkinson said although he has found the act of kindness stressful he is still glad he did it |
| A takeaway owner who offered to give everyone in Edinburgh a free pizza says the experience has been "very stressful". | A takeaway owner who offered to give everyone in Edinburgh a free pizza says the experience has been "very stressful". |
| Marc Wilkinson, 55, the owner of Pure Pizza in Morningside, started to panic when more people than he had expected started to turn up. | Marc Wilkinson, 55, the owner of Pure Pizza in Morningside, started to panic when more people than he had expected started to turn up. |
| He now thinks that the month-long giveaway will cost him three times more than originally estimated. | He now thinks that the month-long giveaway will cost him three times more than originally estimated. |
| But he said he was determined to see it through to the end of January. | But he said he was determined to see it through to the end of January. |
| Mr Wilkinson told BBC Scotland earlier this month that he wanted to carry out an act of kindness to help people struggling with the cost of living crisis. | Mr Wilkinson told BBC Scotland earlier this month that he wanted to carry out an act of kindness to help people struggling with the cost of living crisis. |
| He said he had now given away thousands of pizzas to crowds of people who turn up every day as soon as he opens at 11:00. | He said he had now given away thousands of pizzas to crowds of people who turn up every day as soon as he opens at 11:00. |
| Emanuele Mascolo is one of the chefs at Pure Pizza | Emanuele Mascolo is one of the chefs at Pure Pizza |
| He said: "At first it felt so exciting because everyone who was coming to the shop was saying what a great thing I was doing and it was a nice feeling, I felt like Santa. | He said: "At first it felt so exciting because everyone who was coming to the shop was saying what a great thing I was doing and it was a nice feeling, I felt like Santa. |
| "But as the days went on a lot more people were turning up than I thought there would be. | "But as the days went on a lot more people were turning up than I thought there would be. |
| "I started to panic at the thought of this happening for the whole month and that I would run out of funds. | "I started to panic at the thought of this happening for the whole month and that I would run out of funds. |
| "I was dreading the moment of having to decide to put a stop to it." | "I was dreading the moment of having to decide to put a stop to it." |
| He had budgeted to spend £12,000 on the initiative but estimated it was now going to cost three times as much. | He had budgeted to spend £12,000 on the initiative but estimated it was now going to cost three times as much. |
| After a few days, he started receiving donations from well-wishers, including one local woman who turned up with a roll of notes which totalled £300. | After a few days, he started receiving donations from well-wishers, including one local woman who turned up with a roll of notes which totalled £300. |
| Owner offers free pizzas to everyone in Edinburgh | Owner offers free pizzas to everyone in Edinburgh |
| Read more stories from Edinburgh and East Scotland | Read more stories from Edinburgh and East Scotland |
| He received hundreds of pounds from a businessman in India, as well as other smaller contributions - and donations of ingredients from suppliers. He has also started a JustGiving page. | He received hundreds of pounds from a businessman in India, as well as other smaller contributions - and donations of ingredients from suppliers. He has also started a JustGiving page. |
| He said: "My brain was working overtime when I realised I might not be able to cope with this but it all changed when I started receiving donations. | He said: "My brain was working overtime when I realised I might not be able to cope with this but it all changed when I started receiving donations. |
| "I realised that there were people all over the world willing to help me." | "I realised that there were people all over the world willing to help me." |
| Mr Wilkinson said he was working in the shop 12 hours each day. | Mr Wilkinson said he was working in the shop 12 hours each day. |
| "It has been very stressful but I'm still glad I did it and I don't want to stop it," he said. | "It has been very stressful but I'm still glad I did it and I don't want to stop it," he said. |
| "My gift is out there in the psyche of Edinburgh and it seems a shame to cut it in its tracks." | "My gift is out there in the psyche of Edinburgh and it seems a shame to cut it in its tracks." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Takeaway food | Takeaway food |
| Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| Acts of kindness | Acts of kindness |