Over the weekend, the McDonald's Schomberg location held a cookie fundraiser for the Friends of We Care Charity in support of Easter Seals, a charitable organization that helps support children with disabilities.
McDonald’s owner/operator Rory MacKinnon says he was inspired to choose Friends of We Care by King Township resident Brent Morning, whose annual Golf Tournament for Friends of We Care had to be cancelled this year, due to COVID-19.
Friends of We Care is a charitable organization, with members in the food industry, that raises money to send kids with disabilities to Easter Seals camps.
From Friday through to Sunday, the restaurant sold McCafe Chocolate Chunk and Brownie heart-shaped cookies with proceeds going toward Friends of We Care. Five cents from the sale of every Chocolate Chunk RMHC cookie went toward the Ronald McDonald House in Toronto – a facility that provides a ‘home away from home’ for the families of seriously ill children, undergoing treatment at Toronto hospitals.
With so many fundraisers cancelled this year, noted MacKinnon, Ronald McDonald House is looking at a $16 million shortfall in 2020.
In total, the restaurant was able to raise $1,000 toward the cause.
"Our team at Schomberg is very proud to be able to support such a great cause," said MacKinnon.
Morning was humbled by MacKinnon's support for Friends of We Care.
"That is a great community effort, thanks to Rory and his team and the community for making it happen," he said.
"We are so happy with the outcome and general undertaking of this initiative, said Executive Director of We Care, Tiana Rodrigue.
"We Care, as in every other charity (and many industries) have seen impacts of up to 90 percent revenue lost," she said.
Since most of the charity's fundraising is done through events, Rodrigue says these initiatives have been vital in ensuring they are able to support the virtual camp program in 2020.
"While companies and individuals might not think they can make a difference through $100 here or $1,000 there, the cumulative impact of these third party initiatives is significant," she said. "It warms my heart to see how local businesses are stepping up to help others despite their own struggles."
Stay tuned for the next cookie fundraiser event, as MacKinnon says he plans to host more this year to help support charity.
“It’s how we roll," he said.
The Schomberg McDonald’s is located at 65 Dillane Dr., just off 27 in the village of Schomberg.
To learn more about Friends of We Care charity, visit their website here.
