Fast-food chain McDonald’s launches week-long free family initiative to boost community spirit

This year has served us many firsts, and as communities, cities, countries and global populations, we’ve come together to navigate through them. In a bid to keep this momentum going as 2020 seems to go on forever and local restrictions tighten, popular fast food chain McDonald’s has launched their I’m Lovin’ It week.

Designed to lift the spirits of UK and Ireland residents, I’m Lovin’ It will see famous musicians, footballers, celebrities and authors take to the McDonald’s channels to deliver free family friendly virtual events.

Kicking off the proceedings for the half term week, footballers Peter Crouch and Lioness Lucy Bronze will host daily family football sessions, and children’s author and McFly star Tom Fletcher will lead a holiday reading club.

As a nation of music lovers, many will be missing their live music events and festivals, so McDonald’s went one step further in their bid to alleviate the pressure of the pandemic. I’m Lovin’ It will culminate in the biggest music event of the year, as seven artists take to the stage this weekend for I’m Lovin’ It Live. With Becky Hill and Jess Glynne lifting the curtain on Friday evening, Lewis Capaldi and Stormzy will bring the week to a close on Sunday evening.

Michelle Graham-Clare, Vice President, Marketing and Menu of McDonald’s UK and Ireland suggested that the idea came from feedback from employees and customers, who were all in need of a boost: “2020 has been a really challenging year, so many of the things we enjoy have been negatively impacted and we’ve heard from our employees and our customers, we are all in need of a little lift.

“I’m Lovin’ It Live will be the biggest music event of the year and we are delighted to offer it for free to anyone with the My McDonald’s App.”

“During half term, we want to provide a range of fun, free and useful content for families.”

In addition to its determination to lift community spirits, McDonald’s UK has also pledged to fund one million meals to support families in greatest need, through a partnership with FareShare.

The meals will be distributed in the coming weeks as pressure mounts on the government to reverse their decision on Marcus Rashford’s free school meals campaign, which the footballer has been campaigning to extend over half term.

To access the live music event from Friday 20th October to Sunday 1st November, download the My McDonald's app. The daily football and reading club sessions will be available via the Family Hub.

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