A McDonald's employee is being recognized for showing the rest of us that kindness and compassion are not, in fact, fads of the past but timeless values that define our humanity.
On Sept. 16, Destiny Carreno was formed in line inside the McDonald's at Chicago's Union Station when something caught her eye, something that made her cry.
The photo shows Kenny, a cashier at the fast food chain, helping 56-year-old Dan Garringer cut his food after Garringer politely said "Help me please."
Carreno said in a Facebook post that has since gone viral that Kenny shut down his register, went out of sight and came back to help the man, who has cerebral palsy.
After the photo made waves on the internet, Kenny was recognized with an award for going above and beyond to help a customer in need, according to ABC News.
Carreno's original Facebook post reads as follows:
Seeing this today brought tears to my eyes! 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.
At that point, the tears started to gather in my eyes. My heart was so appreciative for what he did. I couldn’t contain my emotions in the crowded restaurant.
This employee, who put everything on hold for this man, went above and beyond his responsibilties to help this handicapped customer out. That was the kindest and most humble thing I had ever seen.
How many shares and likes can Kenny the cashier get for his awesome service for those in need?
#McDonald’s #13838 #Compassion #SocialResponsibility
“It’s a true testament to who Kenny is, and a reminder to us all that one seemingly small act of kindness can touch the hearts of so many,” said franchise owner Rod Lubeznik in a statement.