Paul and Norman have a rare medical condition called Eosinophilic Esophagitis.  There are not many doctors equipped to manage the extreme presentations of this condition, so we travel 8 hours by car to see specialists in Greenville who can provide us with clear guidance.

We make the drive every 2 to 3 months for surgical procedures to monitor effectiveness of the boys’ treatment.  During a typical 5 day visit, the Ronald McDonald House is our home.  We have warm beds, hot food, and a safe place for the boys to play.  There is also fellowship with other families staying at the House, all with their own difficult circumstances.

The Ronald McDonald House is more than just a place for parents and families to eat and sleep.  It is a dynamic community of strength and resilience, one which allows us to draw upon reserves that we did not even know existed.

RMHC of the Carolinas was once again blessed by having the Piedmont District of the SC Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee visit. They came on February 23, 2012 to shower us with food items and monetary donations to make sure that we are able to provide nutritious food for the families we serve. Janice Wood, Vice Chair of the SC Women’s Leadership Committee, has encouraged all the ladies of the Piedmont District to make this an annual event. This year they were able to give over $3,900 worth of donations.

Linda Reinhardt, of the state of Kansas collaborated in 1997 with Betty Dewitt of SC to conceive the idea which became known as Food Check-Out Week. Then in 1998 the first national Food Check-Out Day was held in Illinois. They used a tractor to pull groceries down the streets of Chicago to the doorstep of the Ronald McDonald House. The key message of their program:

• Helping consumers find solutions to eating healthy on a stretched budget.
• America’s farmers and ranchers are committed to producing safe, abundant and healthy food.
• Through charitable donations to local Ronald McDonald Houses during Food Check-Out Week, they recognize the need everyone has to find solutions to feeding families healthy foods on a tight budget.

Many thanks go to the farmers and their families who have helped to make America a bounty when it comes to food. And thanks to the ladies of the Piedmont District SC Women’s Leadership Committee who are committed to helping families of hospitalized children!

January 24, 2012 (Greenville, S.C.)­­­­ – The Spinx Company has announced American Red Cross Greenville Chapter, Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County, Julie Valentine Center, Junior Achievement Upstate, Loaves & Fishes and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Carolinas as the beneficiaries of their 2012 Spinx Charity Classic presented by Corporate Benefits.

The Spinx Charity Classic will be held on Tuesday, May 1st, 2012. The tournament will be hosted at two of Greenville’s finest private greens, Chanticleer and Riverside Courses. To kick-off the tournament there will be a private pairings party, held in Downtown Greenville, the night prior to the tournament.

“There are so many great non-profit organizations in this area so it was a difficult selection process. These six organizations meet the Spinx mission which focuses on improving the health, education and well-being of children,” said Stewart Spinks, CEO of Spinx. “We’re looking forward to partnering with each of them through the Spinx Charity Classic.”

The American Red Cross Greenville Chapter is a volunteer humanitarian organization that provides relief to local victims of disasters and emergencies. By providing affordable home ownership opportunities to qualified low-income Greenville residents, Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County aims to eliminate poverty housing. The Julie Valentine Center is focused on preventing sexual assault and child abuse through educational programs while providing healing and recovery services to victims. Junior Achievement Upstate offers hands-on, experimental programs aimed at teaching young people the key concepts to achieve economic success. Greenville’s mobile food rescue organization, Loaves & Fishes, rescues perishable and prepared food and then delivers it to organizations in the area that feed the hungry. The Ronald McDonald House of the Carolinas helps critically ill and injured children and their families cope with the stress and expense of daily living.

Registration for the tournament is open to the public with individual and 4- person teams available for purchase at www.myspinx.com. Gift bags, food and beverages are provided to tournament participants. An awards ceremony follows play of the tournament with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners for each course.

For additional information contact Melodie Hudson at 864-451-6672 or mhudson@spinxco.com.

About The Spinx Co.
With The Spinx Co.’s leading edge technology and exceptional customer service, the company is “Making Life Easier” for customers. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Spinx operates 65 convenience retail stores in South Carolina and North Carolina. Founded in 1972 by Stewart Spinks, today the company is the largest privately held gasoline-convenience retailer in South Carolina and is ranked among the top U.S. convenience store chains in the country. For more information, visitwww.myspinx.com.

Kuper Signs SC, of Greer, recently donated a new entrance sign to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Carolinas.   Josh Kuper, owner of Kuper Signs, saw the need for a replacement and knew the sign was not in the budget for the charity.  He stepped up to the plate and took care of that need by designing, creating and installing the new sign that can be seen from the house’s Grove Road entrance.   Josh and his wife, Stacy, are very involved with the Ronald McDonald House.  The couple was inspired to give back after a family member stayed at a Ronald McDonald House in their home state of Virginia.  “The Ronald McDonald House made this happen for my extended family and for that, we owe them,” said Stacy.  Thanks Kuper Signs SC!  If you would like more information about their business, please visit their website athttp://kupersigns.com/.