Just in time for the holiday season, McDonald’s is reaching out to the community.
During the month of December, for each Happy Meal purchased in Alachua County, McDonald’s will donate Happy Meal redemption cards to the Bread of the Mighty Food Bank. The nonprofit organization serves five counties surrounding the Gainesville area.
Loretta Griffis, the community outreach director for Bread of the Mighty Food Bank, said McDonald’s representatives approached her about participating in the program in June. While the promotion began running weekly soon after, December is the first month in which cards can be earned every day.
Since June, the food bank has received about 5,000 meal cards.
"To think that a lot of kids don’t get the chance to eat a Happy Meal, never even step into a McDonald’s," Griffis said. "With this, they are being blessed."
It is estimated that 225,000 Happy Meals will be donated to those children in 2016. This comes out to about 600 free meals served to local children a day, according to a press release provided by Joe Wolf, an account executive for Dalton, the national McDonald’s public relations firm. He declined to comment.
Additional McDonald’s locations in northeast Florida and southeast Georgia are also participating in the drive.
"We wanted to help our local community — our neighbors — address this serious problem of food insecurity," said Calvin Paris, an owner of Alachua County McDonald’s franchises, in the press release.
Enrique Lam, a UF business administration junior, said even though he normally doesn’t purchase Happy Meals, the donation is a good incentive.
"I think it’s lovely considering it’s the holiday season," the 20-year-old said. "I’ll definitely buy one."
