A Chick-fil-A restaurant remained open till late to make 500 sandwiches for First Responders after a mass shooting in Odessa, Texas.
Seth Ator, 36, opened fire on police in Midland after he had been fired from his job that day. He drove through Midland and Odessa on a killing spree till police apprehended and killed him in a shootout. Seven precious lives were taken in addition to 22 people who were injured.
When word spread about the shooting, the Chick-fil-A on University Boulevard in Odessa, closed early so that families could be together. The store shared a post about the incident on Facebook when the call came to help.
“Absolutely blown away by this amazing team of people. After heartbreaking events in our community today we planned to close early and send our team home to be with their families. As they were walking out of the restaurant an opportunity to feed local law enforcement presented its self and they were given the option to help…not one person said no,” the store wrote.
Absolutely blown away by this amazing team of people. After heartbreaking events in our community today we planned to…
Posted by Chick-fil-A Odessa, University Blvd. on Saturday, August 31, 2019
“Partnering with Chick-fil-A Odessa Town Center they cooked 500 sandwiches and packaged them with the most joyful hearts and a lot of love,” the post read. “Sometimes light in a dark world looks as simple as a hot chicken sandwich. We just couldn’t be prouder of these helpers and their hearts of gold.”
The post said that the community was trying to heal. The post further said that they were grateful to all the First Responders, who are real heroes, and they are praying for the community and for all who were impacted by the tragedy.
The post also included a graphic that read, “My mother would always say, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted that there are still so many helpers — so many caring people in the world.”
It also said in a follow-up, “The joy our team had in being able to help when everyone is hurting was tangible. There is power in kindness.”
West Texas is really blessed to have such great First Responders and caring restaurants like Chick-fil-A who work tirelessly for the community.