Ronald McDonald Care Mobile to Benefit from McDonald’s Restaurant Donations

SPOKANE, Wash. — Two remodeled South Spokane McDonald’s Restaurants will donate a portion of their Feb. 19 sales to the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, operated and managed by the Washington State University Intercollegiate College of Nursing and Inland Northwest Health Services, as part of their grand reopening activities.

The two McDonald’s Restaurants, located at 2903 E. 29^th Ave. and at 15 S. Havana St., will donate 20 percent of their 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. lobby and drive-thru sales to the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile.

“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.”

Since October 2002, the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile has provided mobile health care services to children throughout the Spokane area. The vehicle, a $300,000 40-foot state-of-the-art mobile pediatric unit equipped with two exam rooms, delivers medical and dental care directly to underprivileged children in their own neighborhoods, schools and community centers. It also visits select McDonald’s Restaurants for special events.

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile staff, comprised of nurse practitioners from the WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing, provides treatment for minor illnesses and injuries; performs exams, immunizations and sports physicals; and provides vision and hearing screening for children ages birth to 21. All health care services are provided at no cost.

Funding for the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile comes from support from the national organization or Ronald McDonald House Charities, 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 October 2002. The unit can be requested to appear at various locations and special events in the Spokane area. Scheduling information is available online at www.spokanecaremobile.org.

For information on accessing the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, call the office at (509) 324-7291. The mobile unit welcomes walk-ins but 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 www.nursing.wsu.edu.