McDonald’s offers more than just food to the community

In April 2020, McDonald’s worldwide launched its corporate social responsibility plan that is based on the five tenets of food, sourcing, planet, people and community and the Ayuyu family, which owns the franchise on Saipan and in Guam, took to this initiative like fish to water. In fact, social and community engagements in the CNMI is already second nature to them.

From repainting and maintaining several bus stops, to making donations to sports and athletics events, McDonald’s Saipan has over the years assisted and supported youth development, foundations, partnerships with the Public School System, educational entities, promotion of human welfare, working with other social organizations, and environment protection.

Early this year, McDonald’s Saipan showed its support and belief in strengthening the local workforce by donating educational tax credit amounting to $2,500 to the Northern Marianas Trades Institute. That was the fifth time the company has donated to NMTI and its cash donations to the educational institution have now reached over $20,000 in all.

In Guam, McDonald’s Guam supports youth sports, islandwide cleanups, the nonprofit “Rainbow For All Children-Guam,” and the Easter Drive-Thru Egg Giveaway.

Last week, McDonald’s gave away free breakfast meals to Guam and Saipan educators.

Natalie Mable A. Glenn, who is McDonald’s executive assistant to the president, said that recognizing a sector in the community is not something new to McDonald’s as they are always involved in giving back.

“We really want to express our heartfelt thank you for to all of them in withstanding all the challenges that the pandemic has brought to our community this past year. …McDonald’s Saipan and Guam are glad to put educators at the forefront and remind them that they fill an important roles, especially this time,” she said.

In a similar vein, McDonald’s gave away for one week last year “Thank You” meals for all front-liners, including the CNMI’s health care workers, Department of Public Safety officers, Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel, and members of the COVID-19 Task Force. “It is fitting to recognize hardworking people in the Marianas,” she said.

Northern Marianas College president Galvin Deleon Guerrero, who was at the Thank You Breakfast meal launch, said that McDonald’s Saipan has been at the frontline since Day 1 of the pandemic.

“Keeping people fed during a pandemic has been important. …The ‘Thank You Breakfast Meal’ for educators is a great treat from one family to another family of front-liners and we really appreciate McDonald’s and Mr. and Mrs. Ayuyu for their leadership because they understand what it is like to be in the frontlines, implementing mitigation protocols and trying to ensure that everyone is safe and happy,” he said.

McDonald’s Saipan was one of the first establishments the opened its doors to customers in June last year, after three months of having no dine-in due to COVID-19 concerns and just catering to drive-thru customers. Based on research and compliance with the COVID-19 Task Force and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, McDonald’s has created a safe dine-in environment that is secure for both customers and employees.

To help customers navigate their way inside the restaurant during the pandemic, they put up signages on tables to inform customers which areas had been disinfected and not. Other signages also informed customers of simple rules and guideline that makes their McDonald’s “customer journey” highly satisfactory.

For better customer engagement, McDonald’s was able to provide unique services such as the McDonald’s ‘”Mobile, Order and Pay” app where customers can download the app for free, register, order their food and go to the store to pick it up—no more lines as waiting time is lessened and sometimes there is no line at all.

Although launched in 2016, the pandemic made people rely on it more. “We are happy with the turn out of our app users. Not only do they get fast service and fresh, warm McDonald’s food items, the app allows people to earn points that they can use to avail discounts or freebies and know the latest promos that help them save money,” said marketing manager Anna Olaes.

The current slogan of McDonald’s worldwide is “I’m Lovin’ It” and here in the CNMI, McDonald’s makes sure that they do not only have love that they give out to customers but also the drive and passion to continuously give to the community.