McHappy Day a time to ‘show support for the community’

Funds raised at McHappy Day play a couple of roles and one of them is to make sure clients of Community Living Fort Erie (CLFE) feel included.

The local non-profit organization benefitted from more than $4,000 last year by receiving half of every purchase at the McDonald’s on Garrison Road, the other half going toward Ronald McDonald House Charities.

And CLFE executive director Sandy Leemet said on Thursday, this year’s McHappy Day, she was hoping for “at least” that amount again.

Half of the proceeds from all sales on Thursday will help support CLFE’s transitional age youth program, which supports clients between 14 and 26 years old.

Funds raised also help send youth to camps in the summer.

“The children often require additional supports, and this allows them to be able to go to camp,” Leemet said in an interview with Fort Erie Radio at about 5 p.m.

The agency is “extremely appreciative” of the local McDonald’s and its new ownership for its ongoing support on McHappy Day.

“The participation the Fort Erie community demonstrated today directly helps children and families in our community and beyond,” added Leemet.

Anne Molnar, community relations representative for 13 McDonald’s locations in Niagara, said the occasion is an important one for the many local charities who benefit, but also Ronald McDonald House.

“It’s an important day to them because a lot of their funding relies on McHappy Day,” she said.

And it’s also a chance for people to “show support for their community” in various towns and cities across the country.

In recent years, local dignitaries and well-known people in the community would sign up to take on various tasks, such as preparing food or working the drive-thru window.

That format is no longer in place, but CLFE staff and volunteers were on hand all day handing out prizes and offering a number of games and activities.

Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop was in attendance at about 5 p.m. when Fort Erie Radio visited for a second time.

May is Community Living Month in Fort Erie and the rest of the province.

A number of events were held earlier this month and in late April, highlighting the importance of inclusion and the contributions of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Community Living Fort Erie, which has been around since 1957, currently supports 220 individuals and their families.

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