Chick-fil-A has been at the center of a controversy lately, not only because its owner, Dan Cathy, made his views clear on the subject of gay marriage (negative), but because his company donates millions of dollars each year to organizations that some believe foment not just discrimination, but hatred.
Regardless of his stance on gay marriage, the man has a right to speak his views. Wednesday, thousands of people turned out nationwide to support Cathy’s views and his right to freedom of speech. “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day” was the brainchild of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. To show solidarity with Cathy for either his views on gay marriage or his right to speak those views, fast food chicken-lovers were encouraged to eat out at their local Chick-fil-A, which they did, in droves.
While it’s a nice thought that so many put their money where their mouths were to wolf down a spicy chicken sandwich or two, it was a waste of cold, hard cash. The money collected by Chick-fil-A, above and beyond the company’s national daily draw, likely won’t be going to an organization that protects first amendment rights. But it could have gone to better causes than the corporate coffers of Chick-fil-A.
There are two such causes coming up.
Rather than feeding ourselves, let’s feed others. Hosted by the food pantry, Eagle’s Wings, Dancing With Our Stars is coming up Saturday, Aug. 11, and money paid for a ticket to this spectacular event literally feeds the hungry of Beaufort County.
And tomorrow, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., a school bus parked in front of Walmart will be accepting donated school supplies for needy Beaufort County Schools’ students. Those who live in poverty often can’t afford to buy the basics, like pencils, paper and book bags. “Stuff the Bus” is our chance to donate in a way that makes an immediate difference in a child’s life.
When it comes to supporting causes, stuffing ourselves with fast food isn’t the way to make a difference. But stuffing a bus full of school supplies for kids who can’t afford to buy their own and stuffing the Washington High School auditorium full of DWOS ticket holders to help feed the hungry certainly will.