One hundred Quarter Pounders normally cost $525, to the penny. But when a firefighter ordered that many at the South Fraser Way McDonald’s yesterday, to bring back to the crews fighting the rubber blaze, he didn’t pay a cent.
Firefighters get free food at their restaurants whenever they’re responding to a call. They’ve had standing rule for years, working together with the Salvation Army to get the food delivered to wherever firefighters are.
“It’s a crisis situation. The firefighters are tired and hungry. We’ll give them a small snack,” said Daphne Johnson, who owns five McDonald’s locations in town with her husband.
Sometimes the Salvation Army will try to pay for the food, she said, but the restaurant then donates the funds right back to the charity’s kettle drive.
Johnson said the restaurant donates over $60,000 in free food each year, to both firefighters and various community groups. They do frequent fundraising, focusing on the Salvation Army’s food pantry program this year.