CELEBRATIONS have been muted since the movement restriction orders were enacted over the last couple years, but this year’s festivities are regaining momentum.
After all, not being able to visit your grandparents or your beloved aunt and uncle for so long definitely takes an emotional toll on tight-knit families.
For most, it’s also a tradition to “bai nian” – one of the pillars of Chinese New Year – to share blessings of good fortune and welcome the new year with the ones who matter most.
That is the spirit of CNY that McDonald’s is channelling this festive season.
With proper observation of the new normal’s regulations to ensure the safety of the elderly, McDonald’s Malaysia ushered in the Year of the Tiger with the elderly folks at Rumah Charis on Jan 25, with another visit to Sincere Care Home on Jan 27.
Along with another 168 visits (for a total of 170), this is all part of McDonald’s and Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) efforts to bring joy and bring everyone the ‘True Meaning of Prosperity’ nationwide during this January.
“Our theme this year is about the ‘True Meaning of Prosperity’ – it’s about who you have and not what you have,” said McDonald’s Malaysia strategic operations senior director Felina Lim.
She added, “We wanted to bring that back and to emulate the bonds, goodwill and cheer reminiscent of the residents’ memories of their youth and with their loved ones.”
Lim (second from right) joins in on a prosperity toss (yee sang) with the senior citizens at Rumah Charis for good luck and abundant fortune.
Program Komuniti @ McDonald’s and RMHC has always been a big part of the iconic golden arches’ brand to create a positive impact in the communities they serve, underlining the company’s commitment to feed and foster those beneficiaries as a responsible corporate citizen.
“McDonald’s has been organising visits to old folks’ homes since 2017 and giving back to our local communities that have supported us through thick and thin.
“With the new year, we remain committed to taking care of the elderly communities that we operate in,” shared McDonald’s Malaysia managing director and local operating partner Azmir Jaafar.
True to the spirit of togetherness, the restaurant crew will be engaging with the elderly at the old folks’ home with various activities to hype up the festivities.
For Rumah Charis residents, they enjoyed the ritual must-haves of the lion dance and ‘yee sang’ prosperity toss. Additionally, the crew also provided them with haircuts for a fresh start to a fresh year.
A few of the ‘golden girls’ from Rumah Charis received a fresh haircut from APT Salon to welcome a prosperous Chinese New Year with a brand-new look.
McDonald’s Malaysia corporate communications director Shamsidar Yahya said, “This programme is one of the key priorities for the company and we do carry out a lot of these community give-back activities, like with our pledge to donate free meals to frontliners and distribution of three million Americano coffees for those who received their vaccinations in support of the country’s vaccination drive.”
In fact, this year's efforts mark McDonald's Malaysia's sixth year of honouring and caring for the elderly during Chinese New Year, exemplifying McDonald's belief in the 'True Meaning of Prosperity,' in which relationships with our loved ones matter the most.
Recognising the brand as one of the biggest food and beverage companies in the country, efforts like these also help create awareness to encourage the public to do charitable acts, no matter big or small.
“We know we have a lot of fans, so we hope that by doing this we can inspire others to do good in their own way,” added Shamsidar.
There’s more in store this year as McDonald's continues to make positive impacts in society as demonstrated through its community outreach programmes.
Lim and Shamsidar (middle) receive blessings with Rumah Charis residents from the lions.
Other notable community outreach programme milestones last year include the sponsorship of one million meals to frontliners and vulnerable communities, as well as celebrating the birthdays of more than 12,000 children at 400 orphanages nationwide through Program Komuniti @ McDonald’s & RMHC.
Every year, over 7,000 community activities are successfully organised each year under Program Komuniti @ McD & RMHC to support communities across the nation. The activities are carried out by the 318 restaurants nationwide throughout the year.
To experience the ‘True Meaning of Prosperity’ with McDonald’s, fans can view the McDonald’s Chinese New Year 2022 video here.
