Olivia and Erin Little were put to work at McDonalds’ Drive Thru window in Port Elgin during their lunch rush for McHappy Day, May 4.

Hub Staff

May 4 marks McHappy Day across Canadian McDonalds restaurants, with $1 from Happy Meals, Big Macs, and McCafe hot beverages going towards the Ronald McDonald House.

There are 14 Ronald McDonald Houses across Canada. They benefit the lives of families whose children are seriously ill and offer a place to stay while their children are in hospital or seeking treatment. It’s known as a home away from home for many, and the Ronald McDonald House in London, Ontario acts as just that for Port Elgin’s Little family an average of four times a year.

Olivia Little took an interest in the Ronald McDonald House promotional material around the restaurant that featured her and her little sister Harper, during McHappy Day, May 4.

Six year old Olivia Little has Cystinosis, a rare metabolic disease that afflicts just 75 children and young adults in Canada and on May 4 the Little family spent the day helping the busy staff at the Port Elgin McDonalds during their lunchtime rush in honour of McHappy Day.

Erin Little, Olivia’s mom, assisted staff in the Drive-Thru window and said that her daughters were excited to work and support the Ronald McDonald House while Olivia wondered if they would let her make hamburgers.

“It’s nice that we can bring some awareness. A lot of people don't pay attention to what the house is, but because they can relate to a family that uses it, it’s just a different perspective. It’s just not a charity, it’s a charity that is used by somebody else,” Erin Little said in the busy restaurant.

She added that it sounds cliche but to the Littles, the Ronald McDonald House really is a “home away from home”.

“It’s a place where they know us, they respect us, they care, they remember you. And in all of it, when we go to the appointments the next day, we never know, it’s the unknown but the process of going and staying some place that’s safe, it’s the predictability, so it brings a sense of calm,” Little said.

The faces of the Little family can be seen across Southwestern Ontario, on promotional material for McHappy Day, in the restaurant itself, and online.

Over 20,000 families make use of the Ronald McDonald Houses across the country each year and as of 2014 there are 465 bedrooms and family suites, and the charity hopes to expand to 624 rooms by 2019, with funds from days like McHappy Day helping the process.

To make a donation or for more information visit www4.mcdonalds.ca/mchappyday.

Inside McDonalds restaurant, Chad and Harper Little handed out meals to the many customers who stopped by to support McHappy Day, May 4.

Olivia and Erin Little were busy handing orders out the Drive-Thru window, May 4 for McHappy Day.

Blue Jay's fan Carter Rankin supported McHappy Day by eating a Happy Meal. One dollar from every Happy Meal, Big Mac and McCafe hot beverage goes to help Ronald McDonald House.