What This Woman Saw Inside A McDonald’s ‘Brought Tears’ To Her Eyes

The McDonald’s experience can summed up thusly: Think about going to Wendy’s, realize it’s too far away, go to McDonald’s instead, feel kind of bad about yourself, order a Big Mac this time with a large order of fries, feel worse about yourself, order a second Big Mac, leave in shame without talking to anyone. It’s an American tradition. But, occasionally, your McD’s routine will be broken up by something surprising, something like the moment that brought Destiny Carreno to tears.

On September 16, she posted a photo of a McDonald’s employee in Chicago assisting an “elderly handicapped gentleman” to Facebook, and it has since gone massively viral, having been shared nearly 300,000 times. Carreno wrote, “Compassion has NOT gone out of style.”

Today I made a quick stop at McDonald’s after work. As I waited in line to order, an elderly handicapped gentleman wheeled himself over to the cashier in front of me. From what I perceived, the gentleman may have had a case of quadriplegia, the same medical condition my uncle has.

The man politely tried to ask the cashier something and it took him a few tries before either of us could understand he was saying “Help me please.” Neither of us knew what help he needed, and the cashier suggested a few things before he figured out the gentleman needed help cutting and eating his meal.

To be honest, I thought the cashier wasn’t going to help, especially during rush hour in downtown Chicago, but to my shock, he shut down his register and disappeared from view… Not to get away from helping him, but to wash his hands and put gloves on! I had to stick around and see how this would play out, especially since it hit me so close to home with my own uncle. The cashier came out from the kitchen, sat down, and began cutting the man’s meal and helped him eat. (Via)

The employee has since been identified as Kenny, whose manager said the chain is “overwhelmed by the positive response [Kenny] has received for his compassion and kindness.” Japan may have boob straws, but we have Kenny. Go Kenny.

(Via Facebook)