Community Rallies Around Slain McDonald's Worker's Family

Strategic Insights -

Miraclide Orelus, wife of slain McDonald's worker Raynold Orelus, received an outpouring of support from the Jacksonville community and beyond after her husband's fatal shooting on Monday. The couple had been working to bring their four sons from earthquake-ravaged Haiti to the United States, with Raynold taking on a maintenance job at the McDonald's to earn the money. Friends, family, and strangers alike have rallied around the family, donating over $2,200 to a fund set up to help bring the sons to Jacksonville for the funeral. Local business owners, including the McDonald's owner, Dave Mullins Sr., have contributed to the fund, with one Ponte Vedra Beach businessman even organizing a trip for the sons to attend the funeral.

Key Takeaways:

  • Over $2,200 has been donated to a fund set up to help bring the couple's four sons from Haiti to Jacksonville for the funeral.
  • The McDonald's owner, Dave Mullins Sr., has contributed $5,000 to the fund.
  • A Ponte Vedra Beach businessman is arranging a trip for the sons to attend the funeral.
  • The community has come together to support the family of Raynold Orelus, who was killed while trying to thwart a robbery at the McDonald's.
  • Raynold Orelus was working to bring his sons from Haiti to the United States, using his job at the McDonald's to earn the money.
  • The family's pastor, Apolos Fonthus, is quoted as saying "He's a very, very, very good guy."
  • Family friend Kerlens Fonthus said, "I think it is great because the community is getting involved."
  • Raynold Orelus's wife, Miraclide, said through a translator that "He was the only one supporting the family."
  • Orelus's family members, friends, and coworkers have been providing emotional support to Miraclide and the family.

Statistics:

  • Over $2,200 has been donated to the fund set up to help bring the sons to Jacksonville.
  • The fund has a total of $7,200, including the $5,000 contribution from the McDonald's owner.
  • Raynold Orelus was 45 years old at the time of his death.
  • The couple's children, ages 9 to 18, were living in the streets of Haiti after the earthquake.
  • Raynold Orelus had been working at the McDonald's for about nine months.

Sources:

  • [Florida Times-Union, Jim Schoettler, "A flood of support from the Jacksonville community and beyond has been building throughout the day for a local Haitian woman whose husband was slain Monday while trying to thwart the bold daytime robbery of a co-worker outside a Southside McDonald's."]
  • [Florida Times-Union, Jim Schoettler, "The owner of the McDonald's, Dave Mullins Sr., announced this afternoon he's donated $5,000 to the account and urged others to give what they can."]