Multiple sources document various free offers and discounts available to healthcare workers and first responders, with a particular focus on food and beverage promotions. The available information primarily centers on temporary programs initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic and National Nurses Week, offering complimentary meals, drinks, and retail discounts to frontline personnel.
McDonald's has been a prominent participant in these initiatives. According to the corporate website, the company launched a "Thank You Meal" program on April 22nd to acknowledge the efforts of healthcare workers, police officers, firefighters, and paramedics. This program provided free meals as a token of appreciation for selfless service during the pandemic, with the company reporting that nearly 4 million meals were served to first responders. The offer required valid identification and was active through May 5, 2020.
Additional sources confirm the availability of these Thank You Meals, noting that they were offered all day through May 5. Another source specifies that participating McDonald's locations in Indiana, southwest Michigan, and eastern Illinois offered a different promotion during National Nurses Week (May 6-12). In this regional variation, active nurses could receive one free any-size beverage daily by showing valid healthcare IDs or nursing credentials at the counter or drive-through. Furthermore, a Canadian-specific offer from McDonald's Canada provided complimentary McCafé coffee or tea to frontline healthcare workers and emergency services personnel at participating restaurants.
The scope of freebies extends beyond McDonald's, encompassing a wide range of food and beverage establishments. Starbucks offered free tall brewed coffee to front line responders through May 3, 2020. Circle K provided free coffee, tea, and Polar Pop to frontline store employees, first responders, and healthcare workers, though this offer varied by market. Cumberland Farms offered free hot or iced coffee to healthcare workers, first responders, and military personnel. Checkers & Rally's offered a free small combo meal to healthcare workers and first responders in uniform.
Krispy Kreme ran a promotion where first responders could get free dozens of doughnuts every Monday from March 30 through May 11 by showing an employer badge at the drive-thru. Dunkin' offered a free medium hot or iced coffee and a doughnut to healthcare workers on May 6 without a purchase necessary. Other participating brands included &pizza, which offered free pizza pies to hospital workers; Chipotle, which offered a free burrito; Scooter's Coffee, which offered a free medium drink on May 6; and McAlister's Deli, which offered free tea to nurses through May 12.
Discounts were also widely available. Hooters offered 20% off all takeout orders daily for healthcare workers, first responders, and military personnel until further notice. Outback offered a 10% discount to medical staff, first responders, and military members, with free delivery for a limited time. The North Face offered 50% off non-clearance items for healthcare workers until the end of 2020, plus a 10% discount at outlet stores. Nike offered a 20% discount to eligible medical professionals and first responders through its online store. Mrs. Fields offered 25% off the "Heroes Collection" of cookie cakes and tins with the code NURSES through May 31. Gopuff offered a 10% discount on orders delivered to hospitals during National Nurses Week.
Some offers targeted specific needs beyond food. Crocs offered free shoes for healthcare workers daily at 12 p.m. ET through their offer website. H&R Block allowed medical professionals and first responders to file federal and state tax returns for free using Tax Pro Go during May. Sheetz offered free coffee through June 1 to responders and healthcare workers.
Eligibility for these offers generally required valid identification, such as an employer badge or healthcare ID. The offers were largely time-sensitive, with many expiring on specific dates in May 2020 or during National Nurses Week. Consumers were advised to check with individual locations for participation and availability.