By Brandon Shields
Managing editor
It’s been about 15 months since Ronald McDonald House in Memphis announced a coming presence to Jackson and rural West Tennessee.
Jill Crocker is the director for RHM in Memphis and spent part of her childhood in the western part of Kentucky, and she said that helps her have an understanding for the importance of a House in Jackson.
“I spent time growing up in a rural area and understand that going to Jackson and staying there is so much easier than going all the way to Memphis or Nashville or further,” Crocker said. “And that’s why we wanted to provide a House for the Jackson area so families could have a place to stay if their child is having an extended stay and they’re from outside town but don’t want to spend an hour or two or more in driving back and forth round trip for a shower or a nap or to do laundry.”
Officials celebrated a groundbreaking for the house, which will be located on the second floor of a new location for Hyatt Place Hotel at the corner of Lambuth Boulevard and West Forest Avenue, less than half a mile from Jackson-Madison County General Hospital.
Barring any delays because of weather or supply chain issues, RMH and hotel officials are hopeful for an opening before the end of 2024.
In the meantime, RMH is preparing for a big event within its own organization on May 10 in Jackson.
“Ronald McDonald House is known for its efforts in collecting pop top tabs from aluminum cans,” Crocker said. “And on May 10, we’re bringing Pop Tab Palooza to Jackson and Thomsen Farms.”
RMH will be asking school children in Madison County and surrounding areas to collect the tabs off the top of their cans and bring them to school and the schools will bring them to the event in May.
“The tab has a higher concentration of aluminum than the rest of the can,” Crocker said. “So it’s just easier to collect the smaller tabs instead of the entire can, and we take that to a recycler and put the funds from that toward what we’re doing at Ronald McDonald House.
“But the drive also is a way to increase awareness for who we are and what we’re doing, and now that we’re in West Tennessee, everyone in Jackson and the surrounding areas need to know about us. We’re glad to let everyone know why we’re here to help.”
Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news
