Queer Voiceschick fil aorlando shootingblood donation

Chick-Fil-A Opens On Sunday To Give Free Food To Orlando Shooting Blood Donors

The controversial company gave food to law enforcement working at the scene as well.
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By 

Deputy Director of News & Analytics, HuffPost

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Chick-fil-A typically closes on Sundays, but this Sunday was different. 

Workers from the Chick-fil-A Lee Vista in Orlando, Florida, went to work Sunday to offer free food to those lining up to give blood to help those injured in the shooting at LGBT club Pulse. A shooter killed 49 people and injured at least 53 early Sunday when he stormed the club on Latin night, armed with a Sig Sauer MCX, in what would become the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. 

Food went to those on line as well as law enforcement working the scene, according to AL.com. 

Chick-fil-A has come under fire over president Dan Cathy's statements against marriage equality and the company's past donations to anti-gay groups. Cathy is a vocal Christian and the company has closed on Sundays since 1946 for both "practical and spiritual reasons."  

While Chick-fil-A has not released a statement on this particular gesture, a spokeswoman told The Huffington Post there are exceptions to their Sunday policy. 

I can confirm that while we have a corporate policy that firmly states we are closed for business on Sundays, there have been rare cases that move our local operators to respond with food donations to help communities in need. The events in Orlando stirred our local restaurant owners and their teams to band together to provide nourishment to first responders as well as volunteers who donated blood.  We do not think this requires any recognition.  It is the least we can do in this community we love.

This article has been updated to note that, contrary to initial reports, the weapon used in Orlando was a Sig Sauer MCX, not an AR-15.

Before You Go

Orlando Florida Vigils
(01 of24)
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People attend a memorial service Monday, the day after a mass shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. (credit:Carlo Allegri/Reuters)
(02 of24)
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Women hold candles during a vigil for the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting, on June 13, 2016 at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida. (credit:MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)
(03 of24)
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A large crowd gathers for a vigil in honor of the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting at the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center in Orlando, Fla., on Monday, June 13, 2016. (credit:Charles King/Orlando Sentinel/TNS/Getty Images)
(04 of24)
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Danielle Irigoyen brings flowers to the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting. "I'm very close to many of the people who go to Pulse. Pulse was a safe place for us all," she said. (credit:Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images)
(05 of24)
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People hold candles during a vigil for the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting, on June 13, 2016 at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida. (credit:MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)
(06 of24)
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Thousands converged at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando to remember those lost in the mass shooting on Sunday. Speakers declared, "We are stronger than fear. Love will conquer hate. Orlando united!" (credit:Andy Campbell/Huffington Post)
(07 of24)
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People attend a memorial service the day after a mass shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. (credit:Carlo Allegri/Reuters)
(08 of24)
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Mourners grieve at a vigil for the victims of the shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. (credit:Jim Young/Reuters)
(09 of24)
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Thousands converged at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando to remember those lost in the mass shooting on Sunday. Speakers declared, "We are stronger than fear. Love will conquer hate. Orlando united!" (credit:Andy Campbell/Huffington Post)
(10 of24)
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Orlando Police Chief John Mina lays a flower at a vigil for the victims of the shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. (credit:Jim Young/Reuters)
(11 of24)
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People attend a memorial service the day after a mass shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. (credit:Carlo Allegri/Reuters)
(12 of24)
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The Sound of Freedom Color Guard and Band. (credit:Andy Campbell/Huffington Post)
(13 of24)
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Thousands converged at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando to remember those lost in the mass shooting on Sunday. Speakers declared, "We are stronger than fear. Love will conquer hate. Orlando united!" (credit:Andy Campbell/Huffington Post)
(14 of24)
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Thousands converged at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando to remember those lost in the mass shooting on Sunday. Speakers declared, "We are stronger than fear. Love will conquer hate. Orlando united!" (credit:Andy Campbell/Huffington Post)
(15 of24)
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A friend of Amanda Alvear holds up her photo at a memorial service the day after a mass shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, U.S. June 13, 2016. (credit:Carlo Allegri/Reuters)
(16 of24)
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A Muslim man, who would only give his first name as Abdul, told The Huffington Post "we're just here to show our support." (credit:Roque Planas/Huffington Post)
(17 of24)
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Thousands converged at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando to remember those lost in the mass shooting on Sunday. Speakers declared, "We are stronger than fear. Love will conquer hate. Orlando united!" (credit:Andy Campbell/Huffington Post)
(18 of24)
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The Sound of Freedom Color Guard and Band. (credit:Andy Campbell/Huffington Post)
(19 of24)
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Friends and relatives bring flowers and remembrances to the Plaza at the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center in downtown Orlando on Monday, June 13, 2016. (credit:Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images)
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Volunteers gather in prayer on Monday at the Senior Center at 800 Delaney St. in Orlando. (credit:Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images)
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Shawn McCluskey (L) comforts Freedanchy Ruiz as she is overcome with emotion thinking about her cousin that was killed as they stand together during a memorial service at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts for the victims of the Pulse gay nightclub shooting where Omar Mateen allegedly killed 49 people on June 13, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. (credit:Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
(22 of24)
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A man plants a Pride flag at a makeshift memorial prior to an evening vigil for the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shootings, at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, June 13, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. (credit:Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
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People visit a memorial before a vigil outside the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts for the mass shooting victims at the Pulse nightclub June 13, 2016 in Orlando, Florida.The American gunman who launched a murderous assault on a gay nightclub in Orlando was radicalized by Islamist propaganda, officials said Monday, as they grappled with the worst terror attack on US soil since 9/11. / AFP / Brendan Smialowski (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI via Getty Images)
(24 of24)
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People hold hands during a vigil for the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting on June 13, 2016 at Lake Eola in Orlando, Florida. (credit:MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)
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