You’re in a strange city. You’ve got a child in the hospital there, but you’ve no place to stay while they receive treatment, and due to medical bills, you’re short on money. Who do you turn to?
Fortunately for hundreds of families there is a safe place where they can stay while their children are in the hospital, for little or no money. It may be named for a clown, and laughter can be heard coming from the dining rooms and living areas, but the work they do is serious.
The Ronald McDonald House in Knoxville is situated in a 17-room home on the corner of 17th and Clinch Street downtown. The dwelling, originally built in 1902, has an entranceway reminiscent of a home of that earlier age, open and inviting with a large white wood staircase flowing to the second floor. Inside, the visiting family will find a warm and understanding staff and other families who, like themselves, need a hand while they recover from their child’s illness.
“It’s the greatest place there is,” said Mark Miley who had spent the last four weeks there along with his wife Stephanie from Crossville. Their son Christopher Jacob was born without a thyroid and had a hole in his heart.
“He couldn’t breath when he was born,” said Miley. “He’s much better now though he will have to be checked every two weeks until he is twelve years old.”
The House is designated as a place for families who have children 21 years or younger being served in area hospitals to stay for a minimal fee of $5 (that can be waived if need be) which provides facilities for sleeping, cooking, laundry and play.
“They let you stay here with a TV in each room and a great deal of moral support,” said Miley. “It has a homey feeling. They try to take your mind off the hospital area and they do a good job of it. These people are God’s gift.”
According to James Tolene, who is the night manager at the house, the facility is run mainly by a small paid staff and volunteers, who work, as Tolene puts it, “for no pay – mainly ‘thank yous’ and good feelings.”
Sue Beverly, known to the families and staff as “Miss Sue,” has been the director of the Knoxville home for seventeen years. Beverly describes the Ronald McDonald House as “… a magical place. It brings out the best of humanity and it is heartwarming seeing strangers help each other.”
Many of the families who stay there are from Sevier County. Tolene stated, “We get quite a few families from Sevier County, particularly Sevierville.”
All of the income to keep the house going is donated from many individuals and businesses, including but not limited to the Cochran family, who own several area McDonalds Restaurants in the area. Each of the restaurants has a place where you can slip in your extra change, all going to the Ronald McDonald House. That spare change came to a total of around $28,000 last year, according to Beverly.
“It’s a community effort and if we didn’t have the support we couldn’t keep the doors open. If you have a child who is ill that touches your heart. But everything counts, the pennies and dimes all add up.”
Beverly added, “It’s not just the funds that help, but people. Groups can adopt us to make a meal, work in the yard, etc. There are many ways to give, not just with money but their time. Even by baking a batch of cookies and dropping them off. I get as excited about a 4-pack of Bounty paper towels as we do with a $5 donation, because it’s all things we need to keep the house going.”
People in Sevier County can help the Ronald McDonald house by participating in the 1st Annual Lazy River Float-a-thon to be held on Wednesday August 6th at Dolly Splash Country.
The Ronald McDonald House is located at 1705 West Clinch St. in downtown Knoxville. They can be reached at (865) 637-7475.

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