California worker fired for giving veteran free tacos

0804 Jack in the Box workerBakersfield, Calif. — The power of social media was on display as a post went viral claiming that an employee of Jack in the Box in Bakersfield, California was fired for giving free food to a veteran.

Alex Mesta is the employee who was fired. He said he had developed a friendship with the veteran. “Him and I would just share stories, and I’d ask how he was doing,” said Mesta. “Since he’s a vet, I don’t think I should charge him for a coffee. It’s like, not even a dollar for his coffee.”

Recently, another customer ordered two tacos and left them behind. The veteran happened to be there and was also ordering tacos. Mesta said, “It’s either throw them away, or make them for him.”

Mesta was fired on Monday. Jack in the box released a statement in response, saying the firing wasn’t based on just this one incident.

Mesta is now out of work and looking for a way to pay the bills. He said, “I mean, I’ve been there for two years. That was my first job.” But he stands by what he did. “I know what I did wasn’t right to them, but to me it felt right.”

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