Venice, Florida – Joe Koblenzer is a veteran of the Armed Forces and a retiree living on a fixed income. Like millions of other retirees, his social security isn’t enough to make ends meet which compels him to work to supplement his retirement income.
The 73-year-old man has a giving heart that apparently gets the better of him from time to time. Unfortunately for him, his generosity got the better of him one time too many for his employer. He has been terminated from his job of three years as a greeter at the popular country food venue called Cracker Barrel. What was his offense? Handing store condiments and a cornbread muffin to a homeless man.
Mr. Koblenzer stated that an impoverished looking man entered the store and asked for some basic condiments. The man had caught a fish which he would be preparing and wanted some toppings that would make it more palatable. The problem is that company policy forbids giving away food and condiments. It is something which Mr. Koblenzer is well aware of having run afoul of it one time before when he gave a lady a cup of coffee.
With no thought of anything else besides simple Christian charity, he obliged the man’s request and upon giving him the condiments, he put a cornbread muffin in the bag. Well, it proved to be a big mistake as he was summarily fired.
Mr. Koblenzer liked his job, but admits he broke company policy. The matter has stirred up some public controversy because of the charitable nature of his offense.