February 14, 2005
Ronald McDonald Care Mobile to Benefit from McDonald’s Restaurant Donations
Spokane, Wash.: Two newly remodeled south Spokane McDonald’s Restaurants will donate a portion of their customer sales to the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile on Feb. 19, from 11 a.m.–2 p.m., as part of their grand re-opening activities.
The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, operated and managed by the Washington State University Intercollegiate College of Nursing and Inland Northwest Health Services, will receive 20 percent of lobby/counter and drive-through sales at the McDonald’s Restaurants located at 2903 E. 29th Ave. and 15 S. Havana.
“McDonald’s Restaurants is passionate about giving back to the community,” said Mark Ray, owner of the Spokane area McDonald’s Restaurants. “In addition to supporting the community, McDonald's wants to showcase the newly updated restaurants and provide a fun environment for customers to enjoy the day and support the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile.”
For more than two years now, the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile has been providing mobile health care services to children throughout the Spokane area. The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, a $300,000 state-of-the-art 40-foot mobile pediatric unit, is equipped with two exam rooms and delivers medical and dental care directly to underserved children in their own neighborhoods such as schools, community centers and visits select McDonald’s Restaurants for special events. McDonald’s Restaurants has always been committed to the health and well-being of children and their families, said Ray.
The vehicle, staffed by nurse practitioners from the WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing, provides treatment for minor illnesses and injuries, exams, immunizations, sports physicals, and vision and hearing screening to children from birth to age 21. Health care services are provided at no cost. Funding for the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile comes from support from the Ronald McDonald House Charities national organization, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Spokane, Spokane McDonald’s Restaurants and several local funding partners.
“The Spokane area McDonald’s Restaurants have been tremendously supportive of this community outreach project,” said Margaret Bruya, assistant dean for academic health services at the WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing. “We appreciate the creative and generous ways the local McDonald’s Restaurants have supported the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. Having Ronald at events is always fun and helps bring awareness to the services provided while creating a real connection for the children who count on the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile for their health care services.”
The restaurants will be sampling Chicken Selects and a new Chipotle Barbeque dipping sauce. Ronald McDonald will visit each store encouraging families to purchase items for the benefit of the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. The vehicle will also visit each of the restaurants offering tours and information, however health care services will not be available.
More than 2,200 health care and dental services have been provided to children since the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile began operations in Oct. 2002. The unit is scheduled at various areas in the Spokane area throughout the week including special events. The schedule varies and can be viewed at www.spokanecaremobile.org.
The best way to access the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is to call the office at (509) 324-7291, and schedule appointments for the desired location, date, and time. The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile welcomes walk-ins, although staff cannot guarantee an immediate opening.
The WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing is committed to making health care accessible to those who need it most. These services are made possible through federal grants, corporate and individual donors, foundations, college and university allocations, and essential community collaborations.
Established in 1968, the WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The college is the nation's oldest and most comprehensive nursing education consortium. Celebrating 36 years of world class nursing education, the college offers baccalaureate, graduate and professional development course work to nursing students enrolled through four consortium partners, EWU, Gonzaga, WSU and Whitworth College, and in five communities across the state. Each year the college educates more than 700 graduate and upper-division undergraduate students and prepares more entry-level nurses than any other state educational institution. For more information about the College of Nursing visit the Web site at nursing.wsu.edu.