Central Illinois and Peoria/Bloomington McDonald’s Restaurants, including those in Taylorville, Pana, Shelbyville, and Vandalia raised a record amount this year during their annual “Give a Little Love” campaign. From February 2-25, the Central Illinois and Peoria/Bloomington McDonald’s local Owner/Operators and their customers raised over $245,000 to help Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois (RMHCCI) continue their mission of keeping families close.

Nearly 100 McDonald’s restaurants came together during the three-week campaign to raise monies and help support the local charity which provides a home away from home for families of critically ill children receiving treatment at Springfield-area medical facilities.

During the campaign, customers donated $1 or more at their local Central Illinois or Peoria/Bloomington McDonald’s restaurants. Customers who made a donation had their names displayed on a paper heart in the restaurants with one hundred percent of the proceeds staying local and benefitting the families staying in the Ronald McDonald House in Springfield.

RMHCCI keeps families close while their child is receiving medical care by providing them a place to stay and home-cooked meals to eat at no cost to them. The facility is located at 610 North Seventh Street, and serves more than 400 families each year.

More information can be found at rmhc-centralillinois.org.