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McDonald's donates 1M N95 masks to Illinois' fight against COVID-19

McDonald's is sending a million N95 masks for health care workers and first responders in Illiniois, thanks to its supply chain network.

McDonald's donates 1M N95 masks to city of Chicago and State of Illinois (photo: iStock).

April 6, 2020

McDonald's, the Chicago-based fast food chain, announced that it will donate 1 million N-95 masks  — including 750,000 for the city and 250,000 to the state of Illinois — to healthcare professionals and first responders due to COVID-19 related shortages, according to a news release.  

"Our company has a deep bond with the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois, and we feel a profound sense of gratitude for the healthcare workers and first responders serving our community," said Michael Gonda, vice president of McDonald's Global Corporate Relations, in the release. "While sourcing supplies for our restaurant crew, we were fortunate to have come across these critical items so we can get them into the hands of people who need them."

This donation follows McDonald's donation of $1 million and 400,000 KF94 masks to the state of Illinois COVID-19 fund, McDonald's China's donation of 1 million in Chinese Yuan (nearly $141,000 USD) to support healthcare workers and McDonald's Italy and Ronald McDonald House Charities Italy 1 million euro (1.08 million USD) donation to construct a temporary hospital in Milan. 

A McDonald's spokeswoman did not identify the company or companies by name that they specifically purchased the masks from, but simply attributed the source to "our world-class global supply chain network."

N95 masks provide protection against COVID-19 and other airborne particles, but the vital personal protective equipment has been in short supply amid increased global demand, along with ventilators for the sickest patients with the coronavirus.