Mum’s fury at homeless meal ‘snub’
WOMAN CLAIMS STAFF REFUSED TO SELL HER FOOD FOR ROUGH SLEEPER PENSIONER
A MUM has hit out at McDonald’s claiming she was prevented from buying a homeless man a burger because staff were ‘trying to get rid of him.’
The woman says she was told at the drive-thru window that she wasn’t allowed to order the soaking-wet pensioner a meal – or even a hot drink – in case it encouraged him to stay.
The incident reportedly took place at the fast food restaurant in Harpurhey on Sunday.
In a complaint posted on McDonald’s Facebook page, the mum said: ‘What on earth is the world coming to when we stop caring for other humans?’
The woman said she had spotted the ‘frail’ and ‘old’ man sitting outside in the rain and wanted to do something to help.
After ordering Happy Meals for her children, she asked for a burger meal for the man, but was refused. She instead had to drive to KFC to get him a hot meal.
McDonald’s bosses said there is no blanket policy stopping people buying food for homeless people, but said some ‘disruptive’ people may have to be refused service.
The woman’s post read: ‘Tried to buy a very frail, old homeless pensioner a burger meal yesterday, who was sat outside in the cold and rain shivering, begging for food because he was so hungry. I was told at Harpurhey McDonald’s that they would not be selling me any food for the elderly man.
‘I was apparently allowed to purchase a happy meal for my children but no food or hot drinks for the homeless man because they were trying to get rid of him and if I feed him he will stay.
‘I find this absolutely appalling, and this was certainly not a communication error as I asked again if I could please buy a meal for the homeless pensioner. I had to drive to KFC just to buy the man a hot meal and a cup of tea. The weather outside has been freezing and this man was not even inside the premises. I was more than willing to pay for the meal as stated. I just regret that the lady on the speaker must have overheard me asking the man what he would like. Their rude tone and their lack of compassion completely shocked me.’
A McDonald’s spokeswoman said: “We would like to reassure readers there is no policy in place which prohibits service to homeless individuals, or those wishing to purchase food on their behalf. “However, in some instances, we have been forced to refuse service to those wishing to buy food for individuals who have repeatedly displayed disruptive behaviour in our restaurants.
“We regret when this has to happen, but reiterate it is done so based on an individual’s behaviour and nothing else.”
Their rude tone and lack of compassion completely shocked me Mum who tried to buy meal for homeless man