Fast food philanthropy: Brisbane McDonalds gives away essential groceries for free

McDonald’s recently included kitchen staples in its drive-through menu, but a Brisbane store is going further again, offering free groceries to locals doing it tough during the COVID-19 crisis.

MCDONALD’S is selling bread, milk and now eggs from its drive-through, but one Brisbane restaurant is offering them for free.

McDonald’s Bracken Ridge, and owner Rod Chiapello, are well known in the northern Brisbane suburbs for their contribution to the community – whether providing help to individuals or donating to charities, schools, sports clubs and community events.

Coronavirus: McDonalds adds eggs to its essential grocery items menu

Coronavirus Australia: McDonald’s to offer drive through bread, milk

That hasn’t stopped, despite the business having to close its dining areas and offer takeaway only. In fact the community side of the business has increased.

About two weeks ago McDonald’s Australia announced its restaurants would sell milk, English muffins and gourmet bread rolls at its drive-through.

McDonald's Bracken Ridge team members (from left) Talitha Dalton and Caitlyn Menesi with some of the bread and milk which they gave away on Saturday, April 11, 2020.

On April 4 the Bracken Ridge store gave away 90 free bottles of full cream and skim milk, and on Saturday they gave away another 108 bottles of milk along with 150 loaves of bread and McDonald’s cookie bags.

The store also held its first ‘half price day’ across the entire menu on April 7.

“It was our way to give a little in these uncertain times,” the store stated on Facebook.

“We hope everyone who kindly dropped in enjoyed and shared a smile … have a beautiful day staying safe and healthy and optimistic.”

Mr Chiapello said they’d probably do more half price days once the current restrictions were eased, but in the meantime would offer ongoing discounts, including $10 off the family dinner box range during the school holidays.

Bracken Ridge McDonald's is starting home delivery. Photo: Sarah Keayes

This is in addition to the ongoing 30 cent soft serve cones, $1 hamburgers and $3 small cheeseburger meal deals.

“That’s the way we’re able to do the delivery of volume to our community, without clogging up the system (in terms of customer numbers),” Mr Chiapello said.

The store has also given away toilet paper and provided community group Sandbag with 150 boxes to fill with food for those in need.

Staff have also created a ‘sensory experience’ in store, with a mister, calming essential oils, a new sound system and plants on tables.

It’s not only the customers and the community who are benefiting. Even before the COVID-19 crisis began, Mr Chiapello told his employees, “I will go broke before any of the people in our team will suffer”.

Rod Chiapello during a portrait shoot on the foreshore, Bracken Ridge. (AAP Image/Regi Varghese)

“We’re making sure everyone has the same amount of income and hours,” he said.

It is not easy to get Mr Chiapello to comment publicly on what he and his staff do for the community.

However in an interview in 2015, when he was named the Lord Mayor’s Citizen of the Year, Mr Chiapello said he had “an overwhelming drive to do what I can in the very short time that I have in this life”.

“I live in a community where there are many wonderful individuals and groups who advocate relentlessly for the resources they need to make a difference in people’s lives,” he said.

“I think it is because I see first hand so many wonderful people struggling and in most cases rising above life’s challenges and difficulties that I know I am not special.

“I have also come to appreciate that what you give is what you get. The ‘what you get’ is almost certainly not money but comes in the form of considerations that are priceless.”

The local community recognises this and gives back every McHappy Day which, at Bracken Ridge, involves a mini fete in the restaurant carpark with free games and activities, performances by local schools, clowns and balloons.

It’s probably why McDonald’s Bracken Ridge has been the top McHappy Day fundraiser in Queensland for so many years. Last year the store raised $16,639.77, the fourth highest amount nationwide.

Our federal politicians would also be aware of what happens at the Bracken Ridge restaurant after Member for Petrie Luke Howarth mentioned Mr Chiapello in the House of Representatives in October 2014.

“Rod is a community champion,” Mr Howarth said at the time.

Federal Member for Petrie Luke Howarth, Moreton Bay Regional Councillor Peter Flannery and President of Mango Hill Progress Association Laurence Christie pose for a photograph for Smart Car Parking in North Lakes, Friday, February 21, 2020 (AAP Image/Richard Walker)

“Many people regard multinational corporations as self-serving and only in it for the profits, but Rod Chiapello is the prime example of a local operator from a multinational corporation who is all about community.

“He supports many charities and people in the local community, not just Ronald McDonald House but schools, chaplaincy groups and a whole range of people.

“It is people like Rod Chiapello who brighten our communities. They work hard to support their families and they work even harder to support their employees, community organisations, schools and people in difficult circumstances who they may not have met and may never meet.”