KAMLOOPS — McHappy Day got off to an early start with the CIFM McHappy Day Drive Thru Wednesday morning.
Drivers swung by Broadcast Centre between 7 and 8:30 a.m. for coffee, cookies, and socks by donation.
The event promoted the May 2 McHappy Day event in Kamloops and Merritt, which raises money for Ronald McDonald House through the purchase of hot McCafe beverages, Happy Meals, and Big Macs.
“We thought what kind of way that would be different, that we could get involved and kind of make an impact, and we decided to have the first ever CIFM McHappy Day Drive Thru,” said CIFM’s promotions coordinator Kayla Derkach.
“The community stepping up and coming through has been such a beautiful thing. It’s such a gorgeous morning, it feels like spring and summer is officially here, so it’s a great way to kick off the beginning of McHappy Day, which is May 2.”
Kamloops raised more than $62,000 for the charity last year.
The Ronald McDonald House serves as a home away from home for sick children and their families.
Around 30 per cent of the families who use it are from Kamloops and the Southern Interior.
“Ronald McDonald House is an amazing place,” McDonalds’ community relations representative Angela Seymour said. “It’s an amazing place that helps families who have sick children. So, when you have to go out of town, or go down to Vancouver to care for your sick child we’re going to help those families. We pay for the accommodations, and we support them.”
“The journey with a sick child I’m sure must be just incredible, and if this is what we can do to help those families in need then I say, ‘come on Kamloops and Merritt, let’s get behind them and let’s do everything we can.”
