09/08/16

Volunteering at Ronald McDonald House impacted the families and OBIers

In July, a few of us OBIers spent an evening volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House. We catered in some delicious Mexican cuisine and brought blank billboards on paper for the kids to color. (There are some future marketing and advertising executives in that bunch!) We came wanting to hear their stories. Stories of the struggles and triumphs the families have faced and their experiences at RMHC. We left with their stories, and stories of our own. Stories of the love and compassion we saw among the families and staff. Read more about some of our experiences at RMHC below!

“The dinner program was a wonderful way for our organization to get involved with the Ronald McDonald House with little training or resources. Sitting down and sharing a meal with these families who have been through so much helped us understand why the Ronald McDonald House is so important. Ronald McDonald does more than provide a place to stay while their child is receiving medical treatment, it provides them with a community of care, knowledge and support that they can’t get ANYWHERE else.” – AnnMarie

“The Ronald McDonald House just gives life where it’s so needed. It’s truly no different than a home, except it’s shared. Bedrooms, living rooms, a backyard, and of course, a bit of tranquility. We all gathered in the kitchen and broke bread/told stories/made a happy mess together and afterwards, the kids played with their toys and dolls. Little Daniel and I played on the stairs — like kids do in any home — and played catch with his stuffed animal. We just laughed. I also spoke with 2-year-old CJ and his parents at the table who came up all the way from Dallas. CJ had such a wide-eyed curiosity about the world. At RMHC, he could just be a normal kid behind that oxygen tube he had to wear. In fact, so much care was present in this house — including a storage closet full of gifts for whenever birthdays occurred — that people didn’t have to worry so much about “care” for a moment: they could just live, relax and enjoy a sense of peace and normalcy. Which I’d imagine is immeasurably valuable as they go through adverse times. After all, when families must spend countless hours in a sterile and fluorescent-lit hospital, it’s those basic things — like a couch, or wallpaper, or a drawer full of silverware — that must mean all the world.” – Jim

“I was particularly struck by how easily Khloe and Sophie played together. They were just two little girls coloring and chatting — seemingly oblivious at that moment to the tubes that were connected to their tummies and the backpacks they carried which provided them the nutrients they needed. Khloe was particularly fond of Strawberry Shortcake — who also had tubes coming out of her tummy and a pack on her back…just like her. It must be so comforting to the children, but also the adults to have people who are in the same situation as they are to lean on and to seek advice from.” – Ann

“I was really inspired by the sense of community that the families at Ronald McDonald share. Whether it was their first time visiting, or they were monthly visitors, everyone was kind, thoughtful and open with one another in the house – like you would find in a giant family. We saw families entertaining and swaddling another couple’s baby during dinner so they had a chance to quietly eat and reconnect with one another. Another pair of little girls ran off to play and make mischief while another volunteer watched over them. There is a deep bond of understanding between these families that you can tell they can’t find anywhere else. It’s wonderful to see Ronald McDonald House provide such a comforting place for them to gather and thrive in one another’s company.”
– Morgan

“I was so surprised at how open the adults were and how inclusive the kids were right off the bat – especially after hearing what they go through on a daily basis. Whether it was Khloe who insisted she use my phone to take video of me after I took video of her for a social media campaign or Daniel and Khloe who let me carry around their stuffed animals (Mel the pug from Secret Life of Pets and Strawberry Shortcake the pink monkey, respectively). It was also the grandpa from Alabama who had arrived at the Ronald McDonald House the day before for the first time. His granddaughter had a rough day and was upstairs with his wife. While we ate quesadillas and other Mexican fare we compared chain restaurants in our respective home states and he raved about his granddaughter’s progress. (She had taken her first steps the day before coming to RMHC!) He said he always noticed the “donate your change” boxes at the cash register of McDonald’s but never thought he would be staying there one day. He expected Ronald McDonald House to be like a Motel 6 with rooms just lined up one after the other. I think he was pleasantly surprised. But it was also the families that interacted with one another. While Sophie and Khloe played together, Sophie’s mom played catch with 2-year-old C.J. and talked to his mother. At the Ronald McDonald House, families have genuine support around every corner. Ronald McDonald House is great at keeping families close AND creating lasting friendships and leaving lasting impressions.” – Sara