For the second year running, McDonald’s restaurants in Southwest Florida are inviting customers and members of the community to help collect new school supplies for local students in need. From Friday, July 24 through Sunday, August 2, customers are encouraged to stop by participating restaurants in Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, and Lee counties, as well as two restaurants in North Port (Sarasota County), and drop off supplies in the specially-marked boxes in the restaurant lobbies.
“As a parent of school-age children, education issues resonate especially strongly with me. I want to help equip kids with the basic supplies they need to be successful in class,” said Deana Homsi, who, along with her father, Sam, owns and operates six McDonald’s restaurants in Ft. Myers. “I’m excited that we can give back to our local communities through this school supply drive. With 50 McDonald’s restaurants participating in this activity throughout Southwest Florida, I think we are going make a really big impact.”
Suggested donations include notebook paper, pens, #2 pencils, crayons, glue sticks, rulers, small index cards, highlighters, notebooks and three-ring binders. In Lee County, all supplies collected will be donated to The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, Inc., which will in turn make the supplies available to local public schools.
“Our greatest asset, our students, deserve every opportunity to succeed. Having the necessary tools to be ready to learn is essential,” said Marshall T. Bower, Esq., President & CEO, The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools. “Engaged businesses, like our area McDonald’s, help to ensure the success of our next generation of employees, employers and decision makers!”
The first 150 people in each restaurant to donate a school supply will receive a “Be Our Guest” card for a free Happy Meal®. The card can be redeemed at participating Southwest Florida McDonald’s restaurants from August 3 – September 30, 2015.