In sync with America’s economic hardships, McDonald’s Corp. has decided to expand its range of dollar meals with breakfasts. The world’s largest hamburger chain announced the plan Dec. 10, 2009.

Come January 2010, the Golden Arches would sell a set of breakfast items for $1. Such menu would feature the chain’s signature Sausage McMuffin, a sausage burrito, a sausage biscuit, a 12-ounce coffee and a hash brown.

McDonald’s latest promo would be accompanied by a heavy marketing blitz across the US. The company had already set aside a huge budget for advertising in 2010, in a bid to compensate for slow sales.

This move is widely seen as a natural consequence of rising unemployment and stiff price competition among fastfood chains. As more people lose jobs, less people dine in restaurants for breakfast.

“We know now, more than ever, our customers continue to look for everyday affordability wherever and whenever they choose to eat out,” said McDonald’s spokesperson Danya Proud.

McDonald’s $1 dollar breakfasts may vary across the country. For instance, some branches may sell the coffee in larger servings, since a 12-ounce coffee is already priced at 89 cents in some locations.

On top of the dollar breakfast menu, McDonald’s would also begin selling the Big Mac Snack Wrap around the same time. Part Big Mac, part chicken wrap, the item consists of a beef patty, cheese, pickles, lettuce, onions, and sauce—sans the buns.

Yet again, this should make for affordable fare; the item should be sold at $1.49. Four-hundred restaurants across the US have so far tested the item last week.

This would not be the first time McDonald’s has sold one-dollar breakfast menus. The company had launched the promo as early as August, albeit in comparatively fewer branches.

Generally, breakfast consumption in US fastfood chains dropped by 2% this summer, according to data released by research firm NPD Group.

McDonald’s is one of the largest and most popular brands of the 21st century. From children to adults, the name McDonald’s resembles an icon that has made its imprint around the world, from the menu that it offers to the various organizations that it helps.

The Ronald McDonald House of Charities (RMHC) is the philanthropic arm of the McDonald’s Company. For 35 years, it has provided help for the improvement of the lives of many children from all over the world. Its mission is to create and find programs that directly improve the well-being of children. The foundation believes that helping children can help change their families and ultimately, communities everywhere. The RMHC is also a fervent advocate of education. Its commitment to education is best exemplified through its RHMC U.S. Scholarships.

In various American states, the RHMC has continuously extended a helping hand and funded the college education of thousands of RHMC scholars. In the District of Columbia, the McDonald’s Employee Scholarship Program is proof of the company’s commitment to employment and recognition. In this tough economic climate, the RHMC has raised $304,000 in scholarship funds for high school seniors in the Southern California area. Since 1990, the RHMC has raised millions of dollars to help students in the Southern California district.

Just recently, the Ronald McDonald House of Charities of Phoenix in Arizona donated a huge sum of $265,000 to assist more than a hundred of scholars in their college education.

Clearly, the company sticks to its commitment of helping those who are in need in pursuing their education and reaching for their goals.

Admittedly, McDonald’s is more known as the company that makes the Big Mac and other delicious burgers and treats. But in truth, the company, through the years, has continuously added to its track record of limitless helping and charity work.