Burger King employee Kevin Ford gave 27 years of service to his employer and folks couldn't believe the gift he received to commemorate such incredible dedication. So they stepped in to try and make things right.
On days when we see shootings and deplorable behavior blasted all over social and the news, it’s easy to wonder if today’s citizenry still includes a majority of people with integrity and good character. But one Burger King employee with 27 years of service will definitely restore your hope in mankind! Kevin Ford is an outstanding human being!
RELATED: Community Comes Together To Give $6,000 Tip To 70-Year-Old Taco Bell Employee
Kevin has been employed by Burger King and HMSHost at the Las Vegas McCarren International Airport for 27 years. That’s a long time with one employer, and those years of consistency indicate an employee with loyalty and a great work ethic. But, there’s more. Kevin has not merely worked for the eatery for 27 years. He’s never missed a shift in all of those 27 years either! That’s astounding!
A single dad, Kevin raised his children while working at Burger King, and he is now 54 years old. When asked how he maintained such an impeccable attendance record, he said, “You gotta feed these kids and put them through school. So, I just never even thought of missing a day.” What a wonderful example he provided for his children!
Kevin For, humble and quiet, posted a short video as he opened a gift his manager gave him on the occasion of his resignation. Kevin opened the bag of goodies, which included: candy, a tumbler, a pen, and a movie ticket. Although Kevin was delighted, Instagram viewers were not! In fact, the meager gift for an employee who’d given so much to his work outraged them!
It was then that Kevin’s daughter Seryna stepped in. Like her father, Seryna expected nothing and had no ill will toward her father’s former employer. But, she set up a GoFundMe page and invited those following Kevin’s story to contribute, if they felt so led. She also noted that her father would love to visit his grandkids.
RELATED: Dunkin’ Donuts Worker Faced Eviction Until A Customer Blessed Her with a New Home
But Seryna never anticipated the incredible, heartfelt response that came!
Fans of Kevin donated more than $250,000 to honor the man's 27 years of service at Burger King! Moved by his humility, appreciation, and dedication to his family and his work, they wanted him to receive what they considered a more fitting parting gift. Boy, did he!
Kevin continues to be appreciative, stating during a TODAY interview, “For all those years, you feel unappreciated, but you get up just like everybody else. You do your job, and for somebody to show this appreciation is just overwhelming. It’s like I’ve been in a dream for almost two days now. It’s just so beautiful and awesome.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Teenager Working at McDonald’s Pays for Mom Who’s in Tears, So She Comes Back with $40k
Gratefulness goes a long way. And it seems that, above all, it is Kevin’s gratitude for all the big and little gifts in his life that keeps him doing what he does—that kept him going to work every day without fail during 27 years of service! Kevin is thankful and happy!
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15
h/t: Good News Network
Featured Image Credit: Youtube/TODAY
Hally is a freelance writer, blogger, and mental health advocate. A former school counselor, Hally works for a nonprofit that distributes tax dollars to mental health and prevention education providers that serve her county's kids and families. She's a contributor to a devotional and two essay collectives, and she shares resources and wisdom regarding parenting teens, mental health, faith, adoption, and more at http://www.hallyjwells.com where she strives to "Dig Deep and Reach High." She and her husband have three adult children and one rascally beagle pup. Hally loves travel, her book club sisters, personality tests, and a great glass of iced tea.