My heart was heavy but full tonight as I embarked on my very last assignment for the 30 Days calendar. The entire project has been a whirlwind and I'm surprised how quickly it all zipped by. This was a cause I had been looking forward to, because I have never been to a Ronald McDonald House before. It was also a project that involved meeting a new group of people, as well as bringing some of my own friends along. These have been some of my favorite projects! |
It was especially significant to the Ronald McDonald House as they celebrate their 30th year.
So what does the Ronald McDonald house do? This house serves as a home-away-from-home for families whose children are in the hospital's care and are receiving treatment throughout the week. It provides very comfortable rooms, cleaning and housekeeping, laundry, a very well equipped kitchen area (they even have their own private cabinets and refrigerators!) where often meals are cooked by volunteers, play rooms, and transportation to and from the hospitals. Tonight, we would be helping with dinner.
When we arrived, the ADPi Alumni chapter (Jamie, Betsey, and Kaitlynn--So very sorry if I misspelled your names!) was starting to prepare a casserole to serve for dinner. As for my group, we were in charge of ice cream for dessert! While they prepped dinner, we had some time to learn about the facility.
When we arrived, the ADPi Alumni chapter (Jamie, Betsey, and Kaitlynn--So very sorry if I misspelled your names!) was starting to prepare a casserole to serve for dinner. As for my group, we were in charge of ice cream for dessert! While they prepped dinner, we had some time to learn about the facility.
Sarah Jordan of the RMH met me, Carly, and Lacey to give us a grand tour before dinner. She led us through the building, which was not only immaculate but it all looked brand new as well. She tells us that La-Z-Boy provides all of furnishings and they are updated consistently--it all looked like a pristine hotel.
Sarah first sat us down and talked to our group about the history of the Ronald McDonald house:
The idea of a home for families of hospital patients first developed in Philadelphia, PA, in 1973. Fred Hill, a member of the
Philadelphia Eagles football team learned that his daughter had leukemia. During the course of her successful treatment, Hill and his team members and management asked what they could possibly do to help the children's hospital. The idea of a place for children's families to stay was born at that time. The Eagles football team worked together with the local McDonald's stores to raise funds, and eventually a home was opened in Philadelphia. That House became the first Ronald McDonald House in the country.
Sarah first sat us down and talked to our group about the history of the Ronald McDonald house:
The idea of a home for families of hospital patients first developed in Philadelphia, PA, in 1973. Fred Hill, a member of the
Philadelphia Eagles football team learned that his daughter had leukemia. During the course of her successful treatment, Hill and his team members and management asked what they could possibly do to help the children's hospital. The idea of a place for children's families to stay was born at that time. The Eagles football team worked together with the local McDonald's stores to raise funds, and eventually a home was opened in Philadelphia. That House became the first Ronald McDonald House in the country.
She then gave us a tour of the building--shown here are the living room area, the computer room with a great DVD collection, and one of the guest rooms. She told us stories about families that have come through the doors over the years, and how the entire center is treated like a warm and cozy home.
My favorite story is about one child that asked, "With all of the different people here, how do you know who belongs to what family?" Sarah said she was dumbfounded by this question. then answered,
"Sometimes you just don't know. And that's ok. We are all one big family here."
My favorite story is about one child that asked, "With all of the different people here, how do you know who belongs to what family?" Sarah said she was dumbfounded by this question. then answered,
"Sometimes you just don't know. And that's ok. We are all one big family here."
Sarah then showed us a board that is truly inspirational to many of the families that come into the RMH. It displays pictures of premature babies that were once barely holding on and now have been given the chance at life, children that have grown up healthy and happy, as well as an assortment of thank you cards and words of hope. Lining the bottom of the board are caps that are hand-knit--the wonderful lady (I wish I got her name because this is incredible) who knits them drops them off by the bagful. Look at the difference between the sizes of them! The small ones are for premies and the others are for full-term babies. It's hard to see in the picture, but the sizes were frighteningly different.
Sarah took us into one of the guest rooms and told us so many great details about how the rooms all came together. Due to a fortunate accident that happened at the Lexington RMH, Tempur-pedic now supplies the beds for ALL of the Ronald McDonald houses in the region! She tells us about the artwork, gorgeous and familiar Kentucky countryside landscapes all painted by a local famous artist James Archambeault, outfitted with distressed wooden frames that are all provided by framework. These lamps fascinated me-- they work for 24 hours UNPLUGGED in case the power goes out! There is even a cell phone charger on the base that will work for the same time frame. These were all made by Rely-a-Light, which is Kentucky based. Finally, there is always a welcome basket on the guest's bed when they arrive. "31" bags in Columbus provides the bag, and Wildcat Wearhouse is also a big contributor with their stuffed animals. Barnes and Noble throws in a cute children's book as well.
In the laundry room, Sarah showed us this itty bitty onesie for a premie. Yikes!
Our tour finishes with the kitchen itself before we start to wrap up dinner preparations. The game room is shown below, off the side of the dining area. She shows us also the personal refrigerators that the families each have, and then the GIGANTIC and super organized pantry full of donated food items.
We headed back in the kitchen to help the ladies finish up, but it looked like they have it all under control! They whipped up a cheeseburger casserole with spiral pasta, hot dogs, and some chips for a cookout-style meal. The center was not full, so we didn't have too many mouths to feed.
The 25 hungry mouths that were staying in the center were lucky enough to have locally owned and made craft ice cream by Crank and Boom, thanks to sponsor Cameron Sherlock at JiL Communications.
Um, this is the BEST stuff you can get in Lexington... or anywhere in Kentucky, as far as I know. Do you SEE these flavors?! Boasting the Kentucky Proud seal, of course! The families and kids were really excited about this treat. Ok, so the volunteers were drooling a little bit too.
Um, this is the BEST stuff you can get in Lexington... or anywhere in Kentucky, as far as I know. Do you SEE these flavors?! Boasting the Kentucky Proud seal, of course! The families and kids were really excited about this treat. Ok, so the volunteers were drooling a little bit too.
Don't we make ice cream scooping look like so much fun??
The group poses for a picture for a job well done.
On the way out, we got to meet Josie, the therapy dog!
A huge thank you to Beth White, Sarah Jordan, the ADPi Alumni Group, and Shawn Burns for pulling this all together tonight!
Tell me More About the Ronald McDonald House...
There is so much more to this organization than I ever knew. Some of you may me thinking, "but I thought you were focusing on local organizations?" Well, the Ronald McDonald House is completely locally operated!
One guest sums up her experience:
"When we arrived at the House we were greeted with a warm cup of coffee, a hot meal that had been prepared for us by a local church and a nice clean room. When we came back to the RMH in tears one night, there were other parents there to wrap their arms around us and promise us that we WOULD be ok."
Amber Schmidt
From the RMH Lexington website:
Families are stronger when they are together, which helps in the healing process. By staying at a Ronald McDonald House, parents also can better communicate with their child’s medical team and keep up with complicated treatment plans when needed.
When your child is sick, you want the best care possible - even if it is hundreds or thousands of miles away. The Ronald McDonald House allows families to access specialized medical treatment by providing a place to stay at little or sometimes no cost.
At our House, families can enjoy:
• Home-cooked meals
• Laundry facilities
• 20 bedroom with private bathrooms
• Indoor and outdoor playrooms for children
• Special suites for children with suppressed immune systems
• Recreational activities
• Transportation to and from local hospitals three times per day
Over the past six months, our House has maintained an 84% occupancy rate, indicating the continuing need for this service in the Lexington area.
Much of the House's work is done by dedicated volunteers. Volunteers serve as van drivers, help with yard work and cleaning projects, conduct fundraisers and serve on a variety of committees.
It costs around $72 per night, per room to operate the Ronald McDonald House program. To support ongoing operations, we encourage, but do not require, guests to make a donation of $10 per night (or whatever amount they are able) in order to ensure the availability of the House for future guests. However, no family is ever turned away due to an inability to contribute. The remaining amount needed to sustain operations of the House is met entirely through financial contributions from individuals, groups and corporations in our community and beyond who believe in and want to align themselves with our mission.
2012 Impact
Total families served: 440
Average amount each family saves in hotel costs: $1,100
Total number of nights of lodging provided: 6,137
Average amount families were able to contribute per day: $2.98
One guest sums up her experience:
"When we arrived at the House we were greeted with a warm cup of coffee, a hot meal that had been prepared for us by a local church and a nice clean room. When we came back to the RMH in tears one night, there were other parents there to wrap their arms around us and promise us that we WOULD be ok."
Amber Schmidt
From the RMH Lexington website:
Families are stronger when they are together, which helps in the healing process. By staying at a Ronald McDonald House, parents also can better communicate with their child’s medical team and keep up with complicated treatment plans when needed.
When your child is sick, you want the best care possible - even if it is hundreds or thousands of miles away. The Ronald McDonald House allows families to access specialized medical treatment by providing a place to stay at little or sometimes no cost.
At our House, families can enjoy:
• Home-cooked meals
• Laundry facilities
• 20 bedroom with private bathrooms
• Indoor and outdoor playrooms for children
• Special suites for children with suppressed immune systems
• Recreational activities
• Transportation to and from local hospitals three times per day
Over the past six months, our House has maintained an 84% occupancy rate, indicating the continuing need for this service in the Lexington area.
Much of the House's work is done by dedicated volunteers. Volunteers serve as van drivers, help with yard work and cleaning projects, conduct fundraisers and serve on a variety of committees.
It costs around $72 per night, per room to operate the Ronald McDonald House program. To support ongoing operations, we encourage, but do not require, guests to make a donation of $10 per night (or whatever amount they are able) in order to ensure the availability of the House for future guests. However, no family is ever turned away due to an inability to contribute. The remaining amount needed to sustain operations of the House is met entirely through financial contributions from individuals, groups and corporations in our community and beyond who believe in and want to align themselves with our mission.
2012 Impact
Total families served: 440
Average amount each family saves in hotel costs: $1,100
Total number of nights of lodging provided: 6,137
Average amount families were able to contribute per day: $2.98
How Can I Get Involved?
Volunteer
You and your group can cook dinner, drive a van for guests to hospital treatments, work in the family room, clean, do administrative work, or other tasks for the RMH. Check the link for the opportunities.
Donate
Monetary donations are always accepted and appreciated.
View the Wish List
Betcha have some of these items in your home that you could donate.
Start a coin or a pop tab collection
You've seen 'em-- why not start one of your own and start creating a "fund" for donations at home or at your place of work?
Many more ideas on how to get involved!
You and your group can cook dinner, drive a van for guests to hospital treatments, work in the family room, clean, do administrative work, or other tasks for the RMH. Check the link for the opportunities.
Donate
Monetary donations are always accepted and appreciated.
View the Wish List
Betcha have some of these items in your home that you could donate.
Start a coin or a pop tab collection
You've seen 'em-- why not start one of your own and start creating a "fund" for donations at home or at your place of work?
Many more ideas on how to get involved!
Contact
Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bluegrass
1300 Sports Center Drive
Lexington, KY 40502
Phone 859-268-0757
Fax 859-266-6771
1300 Sports Center Drive
Lexington, KY 40502
Phone 859-268-0757
Fax 859-266-6771