Florence Area McDonald’s and Local Franchise Owners Donate $30,000 to Provide Healthcare to Childr

CareFIRST Carolina Foundation, the supporting organization for CareSouth Carolina, Inc., is proud to partner with the Florence area McDonald’s owner/operators on the new CareSouth Carolina ROADS Mobile Health Center. Local McDonald’s franchise owners donated $30,000 to the foundation to support the unit and its operations.

 The name of the unit describes its mission in the community: Reaching Out And Delivering Services. The CareSouth Carolina ROADS mobile health center will be used to improve health access for children in Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Lee and Marlboro counties. There are an estimated seven thousand children in these counties with limited or no access to a healthcare provider.

 McDonald’s owner, Robert Kerzner, understood the need for this unit and took the project to fellow local owner/operators for support.  The leadership of the McDonald’s in Florence, and surrounding counties, invested in improving the health outcomes of children by donating to the ROADS Team initiative. McDonald’s is committed to partnering with children’s programs in the communities they serve. 

 “This investment in our mission is an exciting step into the future of mobile services for our organization.  We have supplied portable dental services to many of the area school children and this new Mobile Health Center will allow us the flexibility and portability of a medical site in very rural area schools and communities,” Ann Lewis, CareSouth Carolina CEO said.

 Karen Currin, CareFIRST Carolina Foundation President and the Board of Directors proposed the mobile health care project in August 2014. It began as a three- year plan and they are proud to announce its unveiling two years later with McDonald’s sharing the vision.   

 The unit will be used in local schools and staffed by the medical, clinical and administrative support teams of CareSouth Carolina, Inc.  The ROADS unit is 40 feet long and equipped with state of the art medical equipment to screen and treat its patients. The unit will park at schools, community centers and special events.  

 “This investment is a wonderful gift to bring this program to reality,” Currin said, “We are so grateful that McDonald’s will help share our vision of better health care for all our residents.”

 “After my first meeting with Robert Kerzner at the Hartsville McDonald’s, it was evident that their commitment to local communities was a huge part of their business model,” said Mark Sobiski, CareFIRST Carolina Foundation Director. “Their understanding of the needs of our patients and willingness to commit their resources to improve the lives of others reflects the compassion and community involvement of the McDonalds owner/operators.”