Free McDonalds for health care workers, first responders

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals, families and businesses in Las Vegas are stepping up to offer relief to people in the community who are in need of food, services and support. Here are stories about people who are leading with kindness and proving the community is #VegasStrong.

McDonald’s ‘Thank You Meal’

Health care workers and first responders can receive a free “Thank You Meal” at participating McDonald’s locations through May 5.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner items will be served in the restaurant’s Happy Meal Box and will be available via drive-thru and carryout when showing a work badge.

During breakfast hours, front-line workers will have the option to choose an Egg McMuffin, Chicken McGriddle or a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit. Each comes with a side of hash browns and a soft drink, tea or hot coffee.

In the afternoon and at night, frontline workers will be able to choose a double cheeseburger, 6-piece McNuggets or a Filet-O-Fish. Each comes with a side of small fries and a soft drink, tea or hot coffee.

Local cafe fundraises to feed health care workers

Beach Cafe owner Robyn Bradley and her staff are fundraising to deliver meals to medical workers at COVID-19 testing sites and hospitals. The cafe has been offering boxed lunches as a way to support health care workers and hospital staff.

Brandy Johnson, the cafe’s marketing and community outreach coordinator, said 894 meals will have been delivered by Thursday.

The fundraising effort began with the shutdown, and the first delivery was made March 29 when 15 boxed lunches were donated to workers at the COVID-19 testing site at Sahara West Urgent Care and Wellness.

“Deliveries have been pretty steady since then,” said Johnson, who added that the cafe has made deliveries for 18 days straight.

In the past few weeks, donated meals have gone to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center; St. Rose Dominican Hospital, San Martin campus; and Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center.

Boxed lunches are $12 and include a bottle of water, chips, cookies, trail mix, fruit snacks, fruit and pasta salad, a sandwich or wraps. Boxes are also available for $10 and include a sandwich, fruit, chips, bottle of water, fruit snacks and trail mix.

The fundraiser’s volunteer effort has grown throughout the community. Local artists and others are decorating boxes, and handwritten thank-you notes are being included from all over the country.

“Each box is getting hand-decorated by volunteers from all over the valley, including a lot of bartenders and servers who are out of work,” Johnson said.

To support the fundraiser or to donate a lunch, call 702-898-5200 or email robyn@beachcafelv.com. Donations can be dropped off at the cafe, which is open for curbside service, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily at 7750 S. Jones Blvd.

Contact Janna Karel at jkarel@reviewjournal.com. Follow @jannainprogress on Twitter. Contact Madelon Hynes at mrhynes@reviewjournal.com.