• January 18, 2010

Restaurant and supermarket chains are chipping in on the Haitian earthquake relief effort.

McDonald's Corp. has announced that it will donate $500,000, to be matched by donations from Arcos Dorados, which operates nearly 1,700 McDonald's restaurants in Latin America, for a total of at least $1 million.

In addition, the Latin American team has developed a grassroots program to raise funds. From Jan. 16 until Jan. 22, all McDonald's restaurants operated by Arcos Dorados in 19 countries will donate 50 cents from the sales of individual Big Mac sandwiches and Big Mac Extra Value Meals. Arcos Dorados estimates that these efforts will generate a minimum of $500,000.

Starting Jan. 18, Tim Horton Children's Foundation coin boxes, found at all Tim Hortons' counters and drive-through windows in more than 3,500 U.S. and Canadian locations, will be designated to UNICEF's Haitian relief efforts.

In addition, Hortons will donate $100,000 (CDN) to UNICEF on behalf of its store owners and corporate offices.

Whole Foods is collecting donations for Haitian earthquake victims at its 289 stores nationwide.

Shoppers can make donations through the end of this month during checkout. The funds will go directly to several organizations leading relief efforts in Haiti following the massive earthquake that hit the area last week, including Americares, Food for the Poor, American Red Cross, Partners in Health, Doctors Without Borders and Action Against Hunger.

Separately, the Haitian Fund will support Whole Foods staff affected by the earthquake. The Austin, Texas-based company's workers are collecting clothes, running food drives and conducting fund raising dinners. The company also is working with vendors to deliver additional food and water to the country and researching how it can help its volunteers participate in relief efforts.--Karlene Lukovitz and Tanya Irwin