Columbians engage in miniature urban development
By Rachel Haynie

Catherine Bennett, Jane Wannamaker, Jackie Morgan, and B.J. Craft put the finishing touches on a miniature village set up for the enjoyment of families spending holidays at the Ronald McDonald House. They are members of the Palmetto 56ers, an organization that enjoys collecting tiny buildings, trees, even squirrels, to create scaled-down cityscapes.

One home away from home for the holidays deserves another, according to the Palmetto 56ers.

The group has engaged once again in their joyful urban development. The resulting miniature village cheers families who can't be at home this year because of a child's illness.

The tiny village the miniature collectors set up at the Ronald McDonald House adds a bit of whimsy to the lives of families with children being treated at Palmetto Health Richland.

Department 56, a company that distributes the shops and houses to make the village, donated the tiny components for the Ronald McDonald House's urban scape several years ago.

Creating the village is the highlight of the club's year but by no means the only activity. "When we meet every other month, as we have been doing for a couple of decades, we bring items needed at the Ronald McDonald House, such as paper towels and other products," explained Norma Hunt.

Members even collect pop tops from soda cans that are turned in to the Ronald McDonald House to be recycled. "The recycled aluminum generates enough money to pay the utility bill at the house," said Hunt.

Although the Ronald McDonald House is a year-'round program, the organization has other programming at their meetings, always designed to enhance their collecting.

"Our programs always have to do with Department 56 collecting," explained Peggy Culler-Hair, president of the Midlands' group.

"We also share a meal as part of our meetings," Phil Craft said as the aroma of homemade spaghetti wafted from the Ronald McDonald House kitchen. Group members brought the entrée to serve as a super-size finale to their village making.