The American Red Cross East Central Illinois Chapter’s simple presentation of a plaque to Papa John’s Pizza Monday, reflected the simplicity of the reason behind the chain’s long-time pizza donations at blood drives.

Tom Bottoms, manager of the Charleston Papa John’s, said he receives requests for pizza donations frequently, but the Red Cross is the most worthwhile cause.

“We’re trying to make the greatest impact possible,” he said.

Bottoms received the plaque honoring Papa John’s for its donations from Tracy Torbeck, recruitment representative of the local Red Cross chapter, in the Papa John’s store.

The unheralded presentation was appropriate for the pizza donors, whose recognition Torbeck claimed is long overdue.

“It’s the people behind the scenes that really help to make our blood drives successful,” Torbeck said.

She said even though Papa John’s is a corporate sponsor of the Red Cross, it is up to the individual stores to decide what they will donate, and Bottoms has been extremely generous when it comes to helping by donating pizza.

“It really does help when you have something to offer the (blood) donors,” she said.

Presenting Bottoms with a plaque to hang in the store was the very least the Red Cross could do for him, Torbeck said. She said she wanted to give the store some public acknowledgement.

“We know all the great things that they do, but I want the community to know,” Torbeck said.

Tina Smith, district manager of Papa John’s, said the Charleston store has been donating pizzas at blood drives for about the past 10 years.

She estimated that the local store has donated what would equal more than $20,000 in pizzas over the last decade.

“We just think it’s a really good community involvement issue,” she said.