Local McDonald’s restaurant Owner/Operators and McDonald’s USA will serving thousands of free, hot meals top from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. daily Sept. 8 – Sept. 11 to New Orleanians impacted by Hurricane Ida. The fgrab-and-go meals are prepared and distributed from the McDonald’s McRig, a full-sized tractor-trailer with a nearly complete McDonald’s kitchen.
The mEals will be distributed in restaurant parking lot of the McDonald’s at 1918 North Broad St.
“There are so many people who are working to rebuild our community and their lives,” said Chris Bardell, local McDonald’s Owner/Operator. “As soon as we saw the extent of the devastation to our community and our own restaurants, we started working to bring the McRig to New Orleans to help take care of the city that means so much to us.”
Local restaurant employees will hand out the meals through a makeshift Drive Thru set up on the restaurant parking lot, following safety procedures and CDC guidelines. Restaurant employees will help guide traffic into the parking lot to help keep the lines moving as quickly as possible.
“We want customers to be able to get hot meals without having to slow down their schedules and to ensure everyone is properly socially distancing. It was just a slight alternation to the Drive Thru service McDonald’s is known for,” Bardell added. “I want to thank our McDonald’s suppliers who are ensuring we have food and supplies at the McRig, as well as the local employees, who are taking time to serve the community.”
To McDonald’s, being part of the community means supporting people every day, and especially when they need it most. During times of crisis, local McDonald’s franchisees have supported communities across the country from providing meals, supplies and other assistance during hurricanes, free Thank You Meals for health care workers during the pandemic, and disaster relief after floods and other natural disasters.
“This community is strong and we will rebuild and be even stronger. That is who we are in New Orleans, and we as local McDonald’s Owner/Operators are proud to be a part of this community. You will not find finer, harder working people anywhere,” Bardell said.
