The crew at Papa Joe's Pizza in Quarryville knows how to ring in the new year.

As an act of charity and goodwill, pizza shop employees worked the first day of 2009 for free on Thursday, collecting more than $1,600 in profits to be donated to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.

"We gave everyone the option of coming in to work today for free — it was on a volunteer basis," said Jesse Sheets, one of the pizza shop's managers. "So I've got about 10 people here happily working. It's for a good cause."

He's right.

The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank distributes more than 15 million pounds of food and grocery products every year to more than 500 soup kitchens, shelters and food pantries in counties throughout the region.

The pizza shop's owner, Joe Gagliano, said Sheets came up with the idea for a New Year's Day of charity last year.

"Jesse gave me the idea, and I thought it was great, so I wanted us to try it again," he said. "Last year we made over $1,000 that we gave to a spina bifida organization."

Many patrons who came to the shop Thursday said they were aware of the cause and happy to start 2009 on a charitable note.

"I notice that Joe's does a lot of good deeds throughout the year, and this one is especially cool because the customers can take part," said Willa Anderson, a Quarryville resident who ordered a pepperoni pizza for her children Thursday. "You can donate some money and get a delicious pizza in return. How great is that?"

Gagliano, who said Papa Joe's Pizza has been in the family since 1971, said it's always a joy to help others in need.

"Giving back to the community is important," he said. "It's the perfect way to start a new year on a positive note."

E-mail: cdifonzo@lnpnews.com