>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

BACK FROM THE GULF: Beau Willadsen, left, owner of the McDonald's stores in La Grande, Baker City and Pendleton, and his employees, from left, Jim Thomas of Baker City, and Michael McIntosh and Robert Moore of La Grande, went to Mississippi to help at McDonald's restaurants in Biloxi and Gulfport. (The Observer/PHIL BULLOCK).

Stories by Bill Rautenstrauch

Staff Writer

The company famous for its "You deserve a break today" slogan recently gave some of its employees — including three from Eastern Oregon — a most unusual break from their everyday routines.

Many McDonald's restaurants in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina found themselves short staffed in the aftermath of the storm. Corporate headquarters asked for volunteers to fly south and take up the slack.

"McDonald's sent out e-mails looking for any help they could get." said Beau Willadsen, owner of the McDonald's stores in La Grande, Baker City and Pendleton. "Plenty of stores survived, but a lot of employees couldn't come come to work."

Robert Moore and Michael McIntosh of La Grande and Jim Thomas of Baker City, all employees of Willadsen's, decided to help.

"It was a new experience altogether," said McIntosh, a La Grande McDonald's swing shift manager. "I've never been on a big plane and never been to the Southern states. But I like to help people in need."

The trio flew to Mississippi Sept. 12, working as needed in stores in Biloxi and Gulfport.

Thomas, an assistant manager at the Baker City McDonald's, has a better than average knowledge of McDonald's equipment, including plumbing.

He worked in both Biloxi and Gulfport, helping to get water running through the lines and installing new filters in the water delivery systems.

"The crews I met were surprised McDonald's would send people from so far away to help," Thomas said. "I'm glad I was able to put some of my knowledge to good use."

McIntosh and Moore went to work at the Courthouse store in Biloxi, waiting on customers, preparing food, and doing whatever else was needed to keep the businesses running.

"Staffing at the Courthouse store went down to just 11 people," Moore, a supervisor for the La Grande, Pendleton and Baker City stores, said. "Basically, we went in there and worked so the manager could do the things he needed to do."

The work was hard, but a thorough acquaintance with McDonald's routines helped.

"I've worked for McDonald's many years, and basically I've learned they're all the same," said Moore.

The Northeast Oregonians went in thinking they'd be working long hours. The reality was different, however.

"At first, there was an 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. curfew, and it took time for us to get to and from work, too," said Moore.

The volunteers were given special identification cards that allowed them into other areas where there were McDonald's stores. They saw quite a bit of the ruination left in Katrina's wake.

"The destruction was awesome," said McIntosh. "You kept seeing things where they shouldn't be. I was impressed with how well people were dealing with it."

Moore is haunted by a family photo album he spotted amid the ruins of a house.

"It made you think how people had to get out, then come back to find all their valuable stuff ruined," he said.

Corporate McDonald's reported via its Web site that half of the 200 Gulf Coast restaurants closed at the height of the hurricane were open again by Sept. 10.

As an employer, Willadsen said he has never encountered a situation quite like it.

"This is the first time I've heard of a nationwide call like this," he said.

Willadsen went beyond the call of duty himself, paying the airfare and wages of the three employees.

McDonald's, meanwhile, paid expenses of the employees while they were in the disaster zone.

"I'm probably into it over $5,000," Willadsen said. "But no, I didn't hesitate. It was the least we could do."

After the hurricane passed, McDonald's set up a 24-hour crisis center to assist displaced employees with food, water, shelter, payroll, benefits and transportation needs.

Moore, McIntosh and Thomas all said they were pleased with the chance to step in and help while those efforts were underway.

"McDonald's employees are like family, and I was glad I could give a hand," said Moore.