McDonald’s with Mekhi

The 5th annual mcdonald’s with mekhi event will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2025.

On June 20, 2020, three-year-old Mekhi Emil James became one of the city of Chicago’s youngest victims of gun violence. He was buckled in his car seat on his way home from the barbershop. There was a happy meal awaiting his arrival at home in the microwave that he had been promised prior to leaving the house. A bullet took that innocent moment away from him as he was rushed to the hospital instead where he passed from the damage it had done to his young body. Too many of our young people have become victims of gun violence while in the most innocent moments. From watching fireworks with loved ones to playing outside of their family home, or, like Mekhi, buckled in their car seats.

With McDonald’s with Mekhi, we get as many people as possible to share the happy meal that Mekhi should have been able to enjoy back in 2020 had a bullet not taken that moment away from him. A happy meal is something that is small, loved, and innocent. Mekhi was also small, loved, and innocent. In sharing a happy meal each year around what would have been his birthday, we are taking back the innocence stolen by gun violence. We are not only taking back the innocence for Mekhi but other young children under the age of 13 who were also victims of gun violence. Currently, we remember a total of 17 children who were from five month to thirteen years old at the time of their death.

At this event, there will be 17 activities specifically created that speak to who the children we are remembering were. For each activity, it is a child being remembered and one moment of innocence taken back from gun violence. This (kids being kids) is how we empower children to be heroes against gun violence. From playing basketball like nine-year-old Janari Ricks, making Tik Toks like seven-year-old Jaslyn Adams, playing football like seven-year-old Jai’Mani Rivera, or doing nails like 13-year-old Amaria Jones, it all represents a moment stolen by gun violence from children.

Together, we are taking back the innocence stolen by gun violence one happy meal and shared moment at a time.

Bring your children out to join us in being heroes against child gun violence! Enjoy face painting, entertainments, food, raffles, prizes, games, inflatable obstacle course, and more!

Register by clicking the registration link below!

Below is a news clip from last year’s event. This will be our first year taking the event indoors!