McDonald’s offers free meals to front line workers
Participating McDonald’s restaurants are offering free “Thank You Meals” via drive-thrus to health care workers, police officers, firefighters and paramedics today through May 5 as a way of showing appreciation for being “committed to our health and safety” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With a limit of one meal per day, meals will be served in McDonald’s iconic Happy Meal box, “in the hopes of bringing a smile along with delicious food,” to these workers wielding a work badge, according to a news release.
Day or night, the release reads, front line workers can show their work badge to receive one of the following “Thank You Meal” options:
• Breakfast: A choice of an Egg McMuffin, Chicken McGriddles or a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit. All options come with any size soft drink, tea or hot coffee and a hash brown.
• Lunch and Dinner: A choice of a Double Cheeseburger, 6-Piece Chicken McNuggets or
a Filet-O-Fish will be offered. All options come with any size soft drink, tea or hot coffee and small fries.
“As local business owners, we know that our communities need us now more than ever and we’re committed to continuing to serve them,” Arkansas McDonald’s Owner/Operator David Stokes said in the release. “We are proud to be able to support our neighbors who are on the front lines as first responders and health care workers with Thank You Meals.”
Hot Springs LifeNet paramedic Dean Rush said the gesture is appreciated.
“For us, you’ve got a different type of person, I think, that enters this and stays in this industry, and you find out really quick that it is extremely challenging on a daily basis quite often and for people to step up and do things like free meals or discounted meals, or anything like that, it helps,” Rush said.
According to the release, the “Thank You Meal” program would not be possible without the restaurant’s “dedicated and unwavering” employees, who are also doing their part to help during the pandemic.
“McDonald’s employees are the heart of the business, and their health and safety has been, and will continue to be,
the company’s top priority,” the release states. “McDonald’s has implemented nearly 50 new safety measures to ensure the well-being of its employees and continues to explore additional safety steps in accordance with guidance issued by local and national health authorities” including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Participating McDonald’s in Hot Springs include those located at 200 E. Grand Ave.,
1214 Albert Pike Road, 3229 Central Ave., 3101 Albert Pike, 4395 Central, 2975 Malvern Ave., 1713 Airport Road and 4447 Highway
7 north. McDonald’s approach to “challenging situations” such as the COVID-19 pandemic is guided by its belief that “we are all in this together,” the release states.
“Our system has come together in extraordinary ways to help each other, our customers and the communities we serve,” the release said. “… McDonald’s has always been a home base for our communities, and we’re proud to provide calm and comfort to them throughout this crisis. We are here to serve.”