Doughnut shop draws backlash from LGBT activists over partnership with Salvation Army

A doughnut shop in Maine has drawn backlash from LGBT activists after it partnered with The Salvation Army to help them find a family in need this Christmas.

The Holy Donut has recently asked the Christian charity to connect the shop with children who could use warm winter clothes as part of a holiday promotion. The family-owned business had asked customers to contribute hats, mittens and sweaters in exchange for free doughnuts or a Holy Donut T-shirt.

The shop announced the plan on Facebook, noting that the charity drive "would be fun and feel great."

However, some social media users took offense to the fact that the shop had partnered with The Salvation Army, alleging that the charity has a history of discriminating against the LGBT community.

One Facebook user has reportedly accused The Salvation Army of rejecting LGBT people from its shelters and lamented that it proselytizes in its programs. "They have tried to scrub their image, but still discriminate," the social media user wrote on The Holy Donut's page, according to Press Herald.

Following the backlash, the shop appeared to have distanced itself from The Salvation Army and apologized if anyone was offended by the partnership.

"We do not support The Salvation Army or consider them our 'partner' for this project, they simply linked us to a needy family," the shop's now-deleted Facebook post was quoted as saying.

"People have suggested that we 'pretend' not to know of The Salvation Army's reputation. We have nothing to gain here, we just wanted to help a family in need. It seems we have offended people which obviously we regret and that was not our intention in a holiday gift drive," it continued.

The shop reportedly received multiple one- and two-star reviews in the past few days as social media users express their disappointment about the charity drive.

According to The Blaze, The Holy Donut shop has removed several posts from its Facebook page on Wednesday.

The Salvation Army has long denied the allegations that it discriminates against LGBT individuals and has insisted that "anyone who comes through our doors will receive help based on their need and our capacity to assist."

"We do not pick and choose who we serve based on religion, sexual orientation or any other factor. This promise to serve goes to the core of our beliefs as laid out in our organizational Mission Statement," the charity said in a statement.

The organization also denied that it has lobbied against the LGBT community, arguing that the charity is "apolitical" and any of its advocacy efforts are in regard to the services it provides and informing lawmakers on how government actions will affect the people that it serves.