On Thursday, May 8, something truly beautiful will happen and we hope you will join us.

Across the country — from coast to coast to coast — tens of thousands of Canadians will walk or drive to their local McDonald’s, order their favourite menu items, round up their bill, buy a pair of socks, or donate a few dollars. And in doing so, they’ll be part of something so much bigger than a meal.

They’ll be supporting families with seriously ill children who are facing some of the hardest moments of their lives — and who find strength, comfort, and community at Ronald McDonald House Charities Toronto.

We love McHappy Day because we see the difference it makes — not just in numbers, but in lives.

Last year alone, McHappy Day raised over $1 million for RMHC Toronto — that’s 5,721 nights of care, comfort, and closeness for families.

But it’s what those nights mean that stays with us.

They mean a parent can tuck their child in at night after a long day at the hospital. They mean siblings can play together instead of being separated by distance and stress. They mean families can lean on each other, and on us, without worrying about where they’ll sleep or how they’ll afford the weeks — or months — away from home.

For Jessica and David Ellis, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. Their son, Drew, was just three months old when they learned he needed emergency brain surgery — hundreds of kilometres from home. RMHC Toronto became their sanctuary, their safety net, and their support system.

“Being in pure survival mode, the House made it possible for us to care for ourselves, each other, and for our families and close friends to also come and support us,” Jessica says.

It wasn’t just about a roof over their heads. It was warm meals, a soft bed, and a place where their toddler, Dawson, could laugh and play. It was connection, compassion, and relief.

And it was a community — one that grew even stronger on McHappy Day.

Friends, neighbours, and even long-lost acquaintances reached out, donated, and showed up in solidarity. Jessica’s father’s entire firehall ordered McDonald’s together in honour of Drew.

“It was overwhelming,” she says. “McHappy Day will always be special to us.”

Today, Drew is thriving — and the Ellises carry forward their gratitude by sharing their story, reminding us all how much this day means.

We never take this support for granted. Every McHappy Day, we are filled with gratitude for the way this community — our community — comes together with heart, generosity, and purpose.

So thank you.

Thank you for ordering. Thank you for rounding up. Thank you for donating, sharing, cheering us on, and making McHappy Day a symbol of what’s possible when people come together to care.

Because together, we are giving families more than a place to stay. We are giving them strength.

How You Can Be a McHappy Day Ambassador

Let’s make some joyful noise together. Here’s how you can share the McHappy Day message and help even more families feel the love:

Spread the Word

  • Share our McHappy Day posts on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or X
  • Post your own message using #RMHCTorontoMHD and tag @rmhctoronto
  • Rally your crew — tell your coworkers, book club, hockey team, or school group to stop by McDonald’s on Thursday, May 8
  • Send this post to friends and family — every share matters!

Join Us on McHappy Day

  • Visit your local McDonald’s on Thursday, May 8 — and bring a friend or two!
  • Snap a photo and share it online to inspire others
  • Let your cashier know you’re supporting RMHC Toronto — and wear your heart on your sleeve

Together, we’ll make McHappy Day a celebration of kindness, community, and the power of showing up when it matters most.

Thank you for helping families stay close when they need each other most.