For the past three years, a World War II veteran, Doug Parker, also known as “Mr. Doug,” has been a regular at his local Arby’s in Chandler, Arizona, either stopping by for lunch or having it delivered to him.
His usual order consists of a roast-beef slider with Swiss cheese and a senior drink, Coke with no ice. Doug eats this same meal every day because it’s one of the few things that doesn’t upset his stomach.
“This is the only place I can get a sandwich or get something to eat that doesn’t hurt my stomach,” Doug shared with Fox 10 Phoenix.
Being a veteran who has gone through a lot and with no family around, the Arby’s crew has taken him in as one of their own. They help him open doors and be seated when he enters the restaurant.
(via Fox7Austin / Twitter)
“He comes in with a walker, as soon as we see him come to the doors, we try [to] grab the doors for him,” Arby’s manager Christina Gamage said. They’ve even given Doug their phone numbers so they can deliver his order to the retirement home where he lives if he’s unable to make it to the restaurant.
For Christmas 2018, the employees chipped in and presented Doug with a $200 gift card, and Arby’s eventually decided to give Doug free food for life after the story went viral. “Let’s give him Arby’s for life, I have no problem with that,” Gamage told ABC News.
“We try to go above and beyond for him because he needs the extra love,” added Gamage. This heartwarming story of kindness and compassion shows that there are still good people in the world who are willing to give extra love to those who deserve it.