Chick-fil-A Restaurants Respond to Orlando Massacre With Free Food at Blood Drives

Chick-fil-A Restaurants Respond to Orlando Massacre With Free Food at Blood Drives

By Jeremy Reynalds, Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service (jeremyreynalds@gmail.com )

WASHINGTON D.C. (ANS-JUNE 14 2016) -- Several Chick-fil-A restaurants in Orlando on Sunday delivered sandwiches and iced tea to blood drives supporting victims of the gay nightclub terrorist attack.

The restaurant on University and Rouse Road delivered the food free of charge to the One Blood donation center, the DC Gazette reported.

According to a story by Bradford Richardson for The Washington Times, a second location at Lee Vista posted pictures on Facebook Sunday of employees delivering free food to another blood drive.

A few members of our awesome team decided to go into work on a Sunday and make some food for people waiting in line to donate blood,” the store said. “We love our city and love the people in our community. #prayfororlando.”

Another Orlando franchise, on Orange Avenue, said it was partnering with several Chick-fil-A restaurants to donate free chicken biscuits and orange juice to police and first responders to thank them for their service.

“This morning we joined up with other local Chick-fil-A’s to donate Chicken biscuits and Orange juice to the police, first responders, and firemen who have been hard at work,”The Washingtom Times reported the store said in a Facebook post Monday. “We are proud to be part of a community that is #orlandostrong!”

The Christian owners of the Atlanta-based organization, which is normally closed on Sundays, have been criticized for holding a biblical view of marriage as the union between one man and one woman.

“But, wait, those people were waiting to give blood to victims that were mostly gay people,” wrote Vianna Vaughan at DC Gazette. “Doesn’t Chick Fil A hate gays? That’s what we kept being told.”

“Turns out, that while the founders definitely don’t approve of that choice of lifestyle, they believe in compassion,” she wrote. “Who knew?”

The Washington Times said that several politicians have denounced the fast-food restaurant for its stance on marriage.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, for instance, last month encouraged his constituents not to eat at a new location in Queens.

Some 50 were killed, including the gunman, and 53 more injured early on Sunday morning, when Omar Mateen, 29, opened fire at the Pulse nightclub.

The Washington Times reported the assailant pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State before he was killed in a shootout with authorities.

Photo captions: 1) Chick-fil-A volunteers hand out meals after the Orlando massacre. 2) Three of the Chick-fil-A volunteers. 3) Elma and Jeremy Reynalds.

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About the writer: Jeremy Reyaldsis Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, a freelance writer and also the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico’s largest emergency homeless shelter (www.joyjunction.org). He has a master’s degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is “From Destitute to Ph.D.” Additional details on the book are available at www.myhomelessjourney.com. Reynalds lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico with his wife, Elma. For more information please contact Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@gmail.com .

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