McHappy day a success
Shannon LeClair – Times Reporter
Six McDonalds locations competed in a challenge this past week to see which one could raise the most money for a local charity.
Gail and Doug Barnsley are the owner/operators of the six, which held fundraising events leading up to McHappy day. For Strathmore it was the McCarnival, held on May 2.
Strathmore won the competition, beating Airdrie and Cochrane by raising a total of $640 during the McCarnival.
Wanda Harnett manages the Strathmore locations and she and her management team came up with the idea. Gail Barnsley attended the McCarnival to see what the idea was, and how the team was doing.
“They are working as teams to raise funds for people,” said Gail.
“We are always proud of the staff for the time they put into it.”
On Wednesday May 5, 14,000 McDonalds chains across the country celebrated the 17th annual McHappy day.
McHappy day is a one-day fundraising initiative which raises money to support local children’s charities.
In Strathmore $1 from every McMuffin, Big Mac, and Happy Meal was donated to the Ronald McDonald House in southern Alberta and the local Community Crisis Society.
Between the McCarnival and McHappy day $5,658 was raised for the two charities. The money will be split 50/50 between them.
“That’s fabulous,” said Laura Bakken who works for the crisis society.
Karen Pease, the executive director of the Community Crisis Society, was excited by the news.
“That’s fantastic,” said Pease, “that’s really going to enhance the experiences for the kids staying at the shelter and make things a little brighter and fun.”
The Crisis Society plans to use the money to take families to the Calgary Zoo, Calaway Park, the Science Centre and other places where they might not get the chance to go without the help of the community.
The restaurants raised funds by selling Ronald’s red shoes for $2 each, shirts; pins and the employees could donate an hour of their wages.
Members of the community also volunteered their time to help the restaurants.
Mayor George Lattery, along with council members Lois Wegener, Brad Walls and Bob Sobol, attended McHappy day to show their support.
“We sold tickets and pins, it was a lot of fun,” said Wegner.
This is not the only good news the crisis society has had lately. On April 28, Boston Pizza hosted a fashion show to raise funds for the shelter.