McHappy Day 2025

May 12, 2025

2 minutes read

May 8th was officially McHappy Day in Canada, and the Kindersley location was busy. This is a very important day in many ways, as it is a major fundraiser for RMHC (Ronald McDonald House Canada). McDonald’s played a founding role in opening the first Ronald McDonald House in Canada in 1981. Since then, 450,000 families have been supported by RMHC programs across our great country.

In Canada, 65% of Canadians live outside a city with a children’s hospital. We are fortunate to have the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon. So when a child becomes sick and needs to be hospitalized, families often have to travel hundreds of kilometres for treatments and the support their child needs. This can be a difficult and unexpected journey.

So, what do Ronald McDonald’s Houses do? Well, they provide families with a home to stay at while their child is being treated at a nearby hospital. These houses come complete with bedrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms and quiet spaces where the family can be together in a loving and supportive atmosphere. The RMHC truly becomes a home away from home for families.

Some hospitals even provide Ronald McDonald Family Rooms. They are a comfortable place for families to rest and recharge, right inside the hospital!

What is also amazing is that even here in Kindersley, we have had two local families make use of the Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon.

McDonald’s Canada, its franchisees and its guests support Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada in many different ways: this year, the sale of socks and aprons and, of course, $2, $5, and $10 hearts can be purchased and displayed in the store.

The staff were very friendly and patient even as us volunteers tried not to get in their way and let them do their work. They patiently answered questions and, in general, gave a high level of service. Thank you for allowing us to come into your house and be a part of this special day.

This author was honoured to be a part of this fun day. I helped out in the drive-thru and in the front area, talking to people and asking for their support for this fantastic cause–it was amazing to see how many people were generous and supportive of McHappy Day. I was also able to see firsthand how the back end of the operation works; from touring the cooler and freezer, to seeing how eggs are cooked and burgers and fries are looked after.

Thank you to everyone who stopped into the store and donated. Thank you to all the volunteers (Co-op staff, Town councillors and even Mayor Francis and others) who came out to offer their help. This author has another level of appreciation for what McDonald’s does and how they help.

Thanks for all you do!

By Kevin Martin