From now through May 21, a portion of the proceeds from french fries sold at McDonald’s restaurants in Canada will help support the Canadian Red Cross. Contributions will go to several organizations, including the Canadian Emergencies & Covid-19 Response Fund.
The “Fries for Good” campaign also reinforces support for Canadian potato farmers, as well as workers at potato processing plants.
The fries will have to be picked up at McDonald’s drive-through stations or ordered for home delivery, as in-store dining options remain unavailable for the time being as part of the nation’s ongoing social distancing effort to suppress the spread of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). As of May 11, the contagion has officially been attributed to 4,906 deaths and 69,156 known infections in Canada, while the number of fatalities and confirmed cases globally is reportedly 282,765 and 4,092,427, respectively.
“With several recent tragedies adding to the hardships already created by the current global pandemic, we wanted to find a way to rally Canadians and support our communities that need it the most right now,” said McDonald’s Canada President and CEO John Betts. “The Fries For Good initiative provides a simple and easy way for all Canadians to contribute to relief efforts from coast to coast.”
Noting that the Covid-19 health crisis has hit the company’s agriculture partners hard, Betts added: “We are continually looking for ways to support them as we navigate the new and unforeseen challenges of this pandemic. Canadian farmers are a driving force in our business and we hope Canadians’ love for our fries will allow us to not only make a significant donation to the Canadian Red Cross, but also reinforce our support for Canadian potato farmers while making a positive impact on their business.”
“This is a unique time for Canadians as local communities prepare for and respond to disasters, while also trying to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 and other unforeseen events that may occur,” said Canadian Red Cross President and CEO Conrad Sauvé. “We are pleased that McDonald’s Canada is providing Canadians with another way to help support people during this unprecedented time of need.”
