More kids living with disabilities will get to go to camp this summer, thanks to community donations during McHappy Day last month.
Restaurants in Windsor and Tilbury collected donations totalling $53,000 for the John McGivney Children's Centre.
The money will support CAMP McGivney.
Over 40 years, 600 children who need help with feeding, toileting, and mobility experience summer camp where they can enjoy arts and crafts, explore nature, and participate in games.
Students from the University of Windsor Disability Studies and Psychology, Human Kinetics, Drama, Education, and Social Work programs work as camp counsellors.
The money will also help pay for a new outdoor learning space at the school on Malden Road.
"Expanding the classrooms in the JMCC School into an outdoor learning space is something we have wanted to do for some time but have not had the resources to do so," said JMCC Board President Ken Kapustiak.
"Research shows that outdoor play in naturalized environments has a positive impact on children's development and physical health, including strengthened motor, verbal, and social skills, stress relief, increased attention and cognitive abilities, and decreased attention deficit disorder symptoms," added Director of Client Services Jennifer Jovanovski. "Our new on-site outdoor learning space will be a beautiful, fully accessible place that thousands of children will enjoy."
This year's donation is the third for the John McGivney Children's Centre from McHappy Day. So far, it has received $115,890.
McHappy Day on June 17 is the 46th in Canada. It's McDonald's longest-running and best-known national fundraising event, with more than 1,400 restaurants participating this year.
