ROANOKE, Va. โ On Thursday, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Virginia received a $16,000 donation.
About 57 local McDonaldโs restaurant chains teamed up for the inaugural โHappy Meals for the Houseโ fundraiser.
For one week, 10 percent of all Happy Meal sales were raised, totaling $16,000.
The house helps families stay together while their children are in the hospital. Executive Director Shannon Boothe says it costs about $900,000 to run the house each year, so this money will be put to good use.
โIt means a lot to us because we see the families day in and day out,โ Boothe said. โWe see the difference that weโre making in their lives.โ
One local McDonaldโs restaurant owner says this is just the beginning.
โItโs a good start and I think that as it takes off and we build this fundraiser out, weโll see bigger checks moving forward,โ Dan Jackson, a local McDonaldโs restaurant owner/operator said. โSo, I think itโs a good first start, but more to come on that.โ
If youโd like to help, you can round up the cost of your McDonaldโs meal and the difference will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Virginia.