Woman sifting through pizzeria's trash reminded owner of mom's advice. The sign he put up is going viral
Daniel Romano's favorite message is, 'Don't cry, eat'
Anne Frank's phrase, "No one has ever become poor from giving," is the perfect way to describe Bronx pizzeria owner Daniel Romano's generosity. One day, Romano noticed a woman rummaging through his trash for food. It reminded him of his late mother's advice about how to treat desperate people. He took her by the hand, made her sit down, and gave her a slice of pizza. That was all it took. Days later, people flocked to D'Romano's Pizzeria, and his phone never stopped ringing since, FOX 5 New York reported. The story was shared on September 10, 2026, and it garnered 44,294 views, 603 likes, and 119 comments.
Mom's advice
Romano told CBS News about his encounter with the woman, "I simply took her by the hand. And I said, 'Come over here, I'll give you a slice.' I sat her down, I gave her a slice of pizza, and she started crying. And I said, 'Don't cry, eat.'" After feeding the woman, he put up a sign that said, "To the people eating out of the garbage, I have more love for you than you think. Please tell me you're hungry. I will give you a slice of pizza." Romano also gave them a bottle of free water. He revealed that the reason he fed hungry people stemmed from his late mother's advice. She told him, "A desperate person will always make a better decision on a full stomach than on an empty," and it stayed with him.
Never-ending phone calls
Romano's story went viral, and now, people from all over the world were calling D'Romano's Pizzeria, asking how they could help. People stopped to buy a pizza for them and also for those in need. Romano said that letters and donations were pouring in. He never thought one little good deed would inspire thousands across the globe to do the same. "It's worth more than money. We're in America. Nobody should go hungry," said Romano. "I'm not rich, but I always do what I can...Kindness spreads, you know; generosity spreads."
A meaningful life
Romano's act was a mix of kindness and generosity, which often go hand-in-hand. A 2026 Gallup Poll revealed that Americans often (40%) see people treating others with kindness, and 48% admitted they've experienced it a few times. The survey also revealed that 52% of American adults found it "very comfortable" to initiate a kind act towards a stranger in their community. The Ascent conducted a survey for Horizons Stewardship and found that 74% of high-generosity people were satisfied with their life compared to 60% of low-generosity people. They were also three times more likely to be "very happy" in their everyday life and believed to lead a "very meaningful" life.
Realest quote ever
Netizens applauded Romano's big heart and respected the way he decided to feed the hungry. @dougjenks6954 commented, "Probably the safest way to donate where the people get fed, not the executives running the non-profit." @littlemisskitten2760 wrote, "I tip my hat to this man. We need more people like you in the world!"
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