Giving Back to the Community

The McDonald’s store in Collinsville is celebrating one year in business.

The McDonald’s store in Collinsville, located at Highway 20 and Highway 169, is celebrating one year in business. Owners Tim and Patti Rich are proud to serve the Collinsville, Oologah and Owasso communities with their three McDonald’s locations. “These communities have been tremendous in supporting our business, and we are blessed to have our wonderful customers and employees,” said Tim. “We are especially blessed to be able to give back and support them; it’s very important to us to show our appreciation.”

According to Tim, education is a key element to a successful community. “If the schools are strong, the community will be strong. We are very happy to work with our schools; it’s the right thing to do,” he said. That is why Tim employs educators Beverly and Harry Lossing as his company’s president and vice president of guest relations. Beverly has two master’s degrees in sociology, and Harry is a retired assistant school superintendent. Beverly and Harry are community ambassadors who are closely involved with the people they help support, working with them face to face – not just on the phone or through email. “We strive to support our schools, churches and local nonprofit organizations in any way we can,” said Harry.

One of the biggest ways the local McDonald’s team supports education is by hosting McTeacher’s Nights for Collinsville, Owasso and Oologah schools, as well as Rejoice Christian. “When one of the schools is raising funds for a cause, we will host a McTeacher’s Night on a specific date from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at one of our locations. The teachers and administrators are in the lobby, wiping tables and visiting with the kids and their families,” Harry explained. “It’s always a very successful night. Mr. Rich donates 20 percent of total sales during those three hours, and 100 percent of the pie sales.” On average, McTeacher’s Nights raise around $3,000 that goes directly to the school. Last year, between the three school districts, they raised close to $25,000.

Another excellent program they offer for schools is quarterly incentives for various needs, such as poor attendance. For example, if a school is having attendance problems, McDonald’s will host a contest in which the class that has the best attendance gets a free lunch.

If you’re under the misconception that McDonald’s is unhealthy for children, think again. “We are very proud of our quality food, and offer a variety of healthy options. The lunches we provide to children include white-meat chicken nuggets, salads, apple dippers, apple juice, and low-fat milk,” said Beverly. To showcase all of the delicious, healthy options available, Beverly and Harry set up a booth with food samples at the Owasso 8th Grade Center’s annual health fair.

Other ways McDonald’s supports education is by donating treat books for teachers to award to students as they see fit, as well as “Be Our Guest” cards offering free food items for the teachers. They also donate items for silent auctions, second-hand employee shirts to use as painting shirts, igloos for sports teams, and much more.

In addition to giving back to the schools, McDonald’s donates food monthly for the John 3:16 Mission and the American Legion, hosts all-you-can-eat hot cake supper fundraisers for a variety of causes, and is currently sponsoring a summer reading incentive program at the Collinsville Public Library. “The winner will receive a bicycle, and everyone who participates will get a burger, fries and a drink,” said Beverly.

The holidays are a very busy time for McDonald’s, and Tim admits that it feels better to give than to receive. Each year, they provide a free breakfast buffet for the Owasso Baptist Children’s Home and the Baptist Retirement Village, and they invite local choirs to their stores to sing Christmas carols and enjoy free breakfast. “We want to be the light of Jesus,” said Tim. “We are working hard to build strong community values and set an example of giving for our employees and customers.”

The wellbeing of his staff is also important to Tim. He employs 275 people and gives incentives for education, including paying up to $1,400 in tuition per semester for any managers going to college. “One of our goals is to be the first-choice employer in the community. We want to dispel the myth that McDonald’s is not a good place to work. We truly care about our employees and our community.”

To learn more about McDonald’s fundraisers and donation programs, call Beverly Lossing at (918) 671-0362.

For more information, contact

McDonald’s

7590 Owasso Expy.

(918) 272-3012

Hwy. 20 & Hwy. 169

(918) 371-0632

12101 E. 96th St. N.

(918) 376-9937

www.mcdonalds.com