It was a McHappy Day like no other in Merritt.

Locals came together to raise a record $20,305 at this year’s annual one-day McDonalds charity event with all proceeds to benefit sick kids in the Merritt for the first time event’s 17-year run in the community.

With city councillors, police, firefighters, local business leaders and community groups chipping in, the final tally put the Merritt location within Canada’s top performing restaurants.

Through partnership with the Nicola Valley Health Care Endowment Foundation, proceeds from this year’s event will go toward urgent paediatric care equipment for the Nicola Valley Hospital’s emergency room.

Nicola Valley Health Care Endowment Foundation board members helped direct the funds towards equipment to care for sick kids in the community.

“It was an overwhelming experience to see the community come together,” said Brandy Sekhon, co-owner of the Merritt McDonalds. “Our youngest volunteer we had come out was 11 years old and our oldest volunteer was well into their senior citizen years.”

Two familiar faces who got their start at the local McDonalds brushed up on their skills while volunteering on Wednesday.

“[Councillor] Adam Etchart and [MSS vice-principal] Gian Cavaliere actually worked at this McDonalds the day it opened back in 1995. And they both came in and worked,” she said. “Gian was basically running the kitchen during dinner — he used to be a manager.”

During the one day event, one dollar is donated from every Big Mac, McCafe or Happy Meal sold — but community donations flooded in this year as well.

The local Elks of Canada branch donated a generous $3,000 to the pot, proceeds from weekly fundraising bingo hosted by the group.

“They deserve the biggest, warmest hug,” said Sekhon.

Merritt’s Elks of Canada branch donated $3,000 to this year’s McHappy Day fundraiser.

Numerous other groups and individuals donated hundreds of dollars for the initiative, and several business owners purchased McDonalds for their entire staff on the day of the fundraiser.

 

Another highlight of the day, said Sekhon, was when some children got the chance to head behind the counter and learn how to make their favourite Chicken McNuggets.

“I’ve worked McHappy day in Merritt for the past nine years,” said Sekhon, who recently purchased the restaurant with her spouse from her parents. “This is so different from anything we have done in the past and these people are the reasons why this did so well.”