Hundreds Camp in Snow For Free Food
Construction near my job has snarled traffic for many months, and some of the new stores are finally about to open. I took this photo tonight outside the new Chick Fil A restaurant about to open tomorrow. They have a promotion in which the first 100 customers get a free chicken sandwich meal every week for a year - and over a hundred people have been camped out in freezing Pennsylvania weather since (I assume) at least last night (they were in tents when I passed by early this morning) to have a shot at the coveted golden meal tickets about to be offered tomorrow morning. I am dumbfounded that so many people are willing to endure camping in the cold for so long for a chance (not a guarantee) of such a prize... considering all the things people should do for themselves but are unwilling to do, which are more necessary and require less effort...
I don't know, I'm thinking that 24-48 hours might have been better spent on exercise, learning a new skill, making future plans, even contemplating God or the meaning of life. What does this say about peoples' priorities? Or maybe I just don't fully appreciate a good chicken sandwich, because I'm still surprised by the whole thing.
If anyone is interested in more pics or details, PennLive had a news crew there and did an article:
"A hundred people are camping out on the parking lot of the new Chick-fil-A restaurant that will be opening at the Shoppes at Belmont Wednesday, in hopes of getting a meal a week for a year.  The first 100 people in line when the store opens will get the prize when the store opens at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday... People were allowed to start lining up 24 hours in advance, and more than 100 people were on scene Tuesday morning.
A raffle is being held to determine the first 100 who will be eligible for the prize of 52 free meals. They must stay put and camp out until Wednesday morning in order to be eligible to win... Those camped out will be served breakfast, lunch, dinner and an evening snack, and there will be games, entertainment, prizes and a block party with a lip sync battle."