‘They haven’t eaten in two days’: Domino’s Pizza Ayr, Hermit Park franchisee feeding the vulnerable

The new owner of the Ayr and Hermit Park Domino’s is giving away pizzas after seeing an increase in families living on the edge of poverty. See why his own experience inspired him.

Dominos Hermit Park and Ayr owner Jason McInnes with Isabella Subritzky

Domino’s Pizza staff in Hermit Park are getting at least two people a week begging for food over the counter.

New owner Jason McInnes said there is an obvious homelessness problem in both Hermit Park and Ayr, where his second store is located.

“They come in and ask if we’ve got any spare pizzas,” Mr McInnes said.

“When we do, we give it to them. Sometimes we don’t have anything.”

A staff member said many are reporting they’ve had no food in two days.

Mr McInnes said he’s more than happy to feed needy people and is actively using the ‘Feed the Knead’ program which allows him to be reimbursed $2 by Domino’s for every pizza he gives away.

“It’s not really about the $2, that hardly covers the cost,” he said.

“But it allows us to keep going, and it’s not all in the store, we can deliver these free pizzas to people as well.”

Mr McInnes is asking struggling residents in Townsville and Ayr to apply through the ‘Feed the Knead’ nomination form on the Domino’s Australia website.

All it requires is an address, contact information, why you need the pizza and how many people need food.

People can also use the form to nominate other families or people in need.

Find the nomination form here

Mr McInnes took over the Hermit Park and Ayr stores in August last year, and is being kept busy fixing up the kitchens while also working as part-franchisee of the Gracemere, Biloela and Emerald Domino’s.

Mr McInnes said the rental program was contributing to homelessness in Ayr and Hermit Park.

“When I moved up from Gracemere, I couldn’t get a rental for six weeks,” he said.

“I was living out of my camper in a Bluewater caravan park and I’d go to work and be running deliveries out to the same park.”

Mr McInnes said there were several people living day-to-day in the caravan park alongside him as they all searched for rentals.

“There was a family of five who were spending their kids to school and everything, all from the caravan park.”

Since posting online about the Feed the Knead program two weeks ago, Mr McInnes’ stores have received over 20 requests for food.

“One application stood out to me. It was a family of six who said they can’t provide a meal for their family,” Mr McInnes said.

Mr McInnes owns his stores in partnership with Pankish Oberai.

Originally published as ‘They haven’t eaten in two days’: Domino’s Pizza Ayr, Hermit Park franchisee feeding the vulnerable