Ronald McDonald House® is a “home-away-from-home” for families who are in Memphis while their children are receiving treatment for cancer or another catastrophic illness at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
All families stay completely free of charge.
The Ken-Ten chapter Southern Cruisers Riding Club No. 330 is in the middle of a “Stock the Ronald McDonald House Drive” to provide supplies for the Ronald McDonald House® of Memphis. They are working to fill a trailer, donated by Buddy’s Wrecker Service.
Area residents are encouraged to participate in the drive by providing items from a list of requested supplies. A supply drive will be held in the Dollar Tree parking lot in Union City from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 8. The trailer will be there to fill with donations.
Collection boxes are also located around the Ken-Ten area.
They include in Union City — Dot’s Pub, Cash Tyme, Heights Finance, Curves and McDonald’s; in Dresden — Finish Line bar and French’s Bar B Q; in Martin — State Finance, Tennessee Hospice Care and Volunteer Hospital; and in Sharon — the Tobacco Barn.
Items being requested include: toilet paper, aluminum foil, disinfectant, antibacterial wipers, Kleenex, laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, paper towels, liquid hand soap and Swiffer wet and dry refills.
Staple foods requested include individual snacks (such as Little Debbie’s, cookies, etc.), individual boxes of cereal, PopTarts, individual bags of chips, canned tuna, microwave mac and cheese, other microwave meals SpaghettiO’s®, ravioli, healthy snacks (such as raisins, fruit rollups and granola bars), boxed meals, pasta noodles and sauce and juice boxes.
Miscellaneous items listed include event passes and tickets (such as ball games, movies), full-size mattress pads and vinyl mattress pads, new release DVDs, bathroom rugs (white or beige 21-inch x 34-inch), mildew resistant shower curtain liners (clear), silverware, gift cards to area stores (such as Target, Sam’s Club), video games (Nintendo Wii, Xbox360 and PS3), art canvases and paint brushes (all sizes) and pastel and acrylic paints.
Office supplies needed include white copy paper (letter size) and bright-colored copy paper and card stock, folders with pockets, stamps and stationery.
Co-organizer Jason Morphis said the organization appreciates all the help and supplies being donated to support the Ronald McDonald House of Memphis. He said supplies are being requested, but should someone wish to write a check, it should be written directly to the Ronald McDonald House in Memphis.
The organization also has a limited number of T-shirts to benefit Ronald McDonald House available for $20 each.
The Ronald McDonald House® of Memphis gives families more time with their sick children. “That means more hugs, more kisses and more ‘I love yous,’” the Ronald McDonald House of Memphis website states.
“Families are stronger when they are together, and their presence helps a sick child heal faster and cope better. While Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Memphis cannot make medicine taste better or take away painful treatments, we can help lessen the burden and ensure families have the stability and resources to keep their child healthy and happy,” the website states.
There will be a bike run Sept. 15 and items collected will be taken to Memphis and stocked in the pantry. This run is open to the public and cars are welcomed.
Families are encouraged to bring children for a tour of the Ronald McDonald House. The fee for the ride is any size donation of supplies. Registration will be at 8 a.m. at Union City Walmart, with kick stands up at 9. For more information, contact Morphis at 446-1425, Michael Cole at 446-5905 or Brad Copley at (731) 819-2455.

WCP 8.30.12