On Tuesday evening at the Rudy Lozano Library in Pilsen, a group of Southwest Side volunteers handed out warm pizza slices and orange soda to voters waiting to cast their ballots. The effort, organized by 24‑year‑old community activist Diego Garcia and his friends Mauricio Leyva and Jose Padilla, was intended to keep lines moving and remind young residents that their voices matter in local elections.
Local volunteers step up
Garcia, who has been active in neighborhood organizing since his teens, said the pizza was a simple way to show neighbors that they are not forgotten. “It’s from your neighbors,” he told a voter who asked if the food was free. The trio coordinated the delivery through the national “Pizza to the Polls” initiative, arranging for boxes from Benny’s Pizza on West 18th Street to arrive just as the polls were about to close.
By 5:45 p.m., roughly 150 people were waiting in line at the Pilsen site. When the first delivery was delayed, the volunteers took matters into their own hands, picking up additional pies themselves and later bringing more boxes to nearby polling locations in Archer Heights and Brighton Park.
Voters appreciate the morale boost
Leo Sanchez, 25, waited over an hour and a half before receiving a slice. He said the gesture was “very nice” and helped him stay focused on the issues at stake, including the Chicago school board election. “I live in the city and I want to see it better,” he said.
Dylan Boyle, 28, described the pizza as a “morale boost” for those tired of waiting. The volunteers also used the time in line to discuss local races, monitor results from Texas and other southern states, and keep neighbors updated via text and social media.
Addressing long lines and ballot shortages
Earlier that day, poll workers at the library ran out of paper ballots twice, a problem that contributed to the long waits. Garcia noted that misconceptions about young people’s political engagement persist. “We’ve had enough of this. We’ll do everything it takes to make sure we’re represented,” he said.
The volunteers’ actions reflect a broader trend of grassroots efforts to support voter participation in Chicago’s neighborhoods. By providing food and encouragement, they aim to ensure that the next generation’s concerns are heard at the ballot box.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
