A former homeless man turned pizza shop owner is paying it forward.
Hakki Akdeniz runs Champion Pizza.
He cooked up more than 100 cheese pies to deliver to the Bowery Mission — where he once stayed when he first came to America.
Akdeniz says he wanted to make sure those seeking shelter in this dangerous cold had a hot meal to enjoy.
"I know what it's like to be there, how to suffer. Most people, it's not their choice to be there, they just don't have anywhere to go. I want to do this to inspire other people so they can do the same thing, you know?" he said.
"Thank God for people to come and to assist other people and do it without looking for anything else in return other than being of service."
Akdeniz started the pizza chain in 2009, and now owns several stores across Manhattan and Brooklyn.