Chick-Fil-A Gay Marriage Controversy: Care And Share Food Bank Wouldn't Cancel Drive

Once everyone from Miss Piggy to Rick Santorum took a stand on the Chick-fil-a gay marriage controversy, it was only a matter of time before the nonprofit world would be forced to make a statement on the issue.

The Atlanta-based fast-food chain has been on the chopping block since its president announced the company’s support of the “biblical definition of the family unit” earlier this month. Nonprofits remained quiet on the issue while politicians and entertainers heatedly weighed in, until a food bank in Colorado had to decide if it would maintain a partnership with the embroiled franchise (H/T Nonprofit Quarterly).

The Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado, a nonprofit that coordinates food distribution, hosts an annual summer drive sponsored by Chick-fil-A, the Colorado Springs Independent reports. The program incentivizes donors by giving them a free chicken sandwich when they bring two non-perishable food items to a local Chick-fil-a restaurant.

Last year, the Colorado Springs Chick-fil-a collected 10,000 pounds of food through the one-day initiative, according to its Facebook page.

Though the collaboration certainly helps people in need, LGBT activists urged the food bank’s CEO, Lynne Telford, to cancel the drive, or at the very least, release a statement disagreeing with the company’s polarizing marriage stance.

While Telford admitted to the news outlet that the situation was “awkward” she said she doesn’t let politics interfere with the organization's contributions.

“It is awkward, but we’re trying to feed people — that's what we’re trying to do,” Telford told the Colorado Springs Independent. "We’re grateful for the food. The summer donations are down because everyone donated to the Waldo Canyon Fire, and we need to respect the people who wanted that food to go to the victims.”