Volunteer Newsletter: From Our House to Yours| Issue XIV
We are so excited to invite you to a very special occasion to honor our volunteers and support our families staying at Ronald McDonald House New York.
Join us on November 16th, for our Virtual Volunteer Recognition Event at 6:30PM. We’d like to take a moment to recognize our volunteers’ and community partners’ momentous service, and even sneak in a special performance by one of our favorite stars of the House – our kids! If you’re interested in a sponsorship opportunity or would like to contribute towards this Volunteer Recognition Event, please visit our Heroes webpage.
Directly following the Volunteer Recognition Event, you will automatically gain access to RMH-NY’s Virtual 28th Annual Gala. This star studded event will feature special appearances from Chris Pratt, Amy Poehler, Liam Neeson, Wayne Brady and more! We look forward to bringing our community together on this special evening to gather support for the House we love to call a home-away-from-home for so many families in need.
How to Support our Heroes Fund
- Create your own fundraising page on our website. Share the link with your family and friends to ask for their support.
- Host a special Event with your community and ask them to make a donation on your fundraising page. It can be anything you want! Some volunteers have hosted exercise or cooking classes. Get creative!
- Help us solicit Silent Auction Items. On November 2nd- November 16th we are hosting our annual online Silent Auction. Please think of any items or special experiences your job, friends or family may have access to and help us collect donated items to auction off this fall!
Shelly Talan
Team: Monday night
Resides: Manhattan
Profession: Interior Design
How did you get involved at the House? I have always felt that’s its important to give back and help make a change in people’s lives. I had been involved with many different groups where I had been living in Pomona NY, when I moved into the city I lived around the corner from RMH NY. I thought this would be a perfect fit for me as I had been a schoolteacher for many years and an arts and crafts counsellor.
Years Volunteering: 16
Volunteer Goal: I always try to think about what I could do to make the lives of the people residing at the House better and how I can create some normalcy for the families.
Favorite & Most Memorable Volunteering Experience at RMH-NY: That would be the parents who have come up to me after one of my events and have hugged me and thanked me, parents have just come from the chemo unit and have told me that for two hours they and their child felt normal.
What you enjoys most about being at the House?I love spending time with the children and watching them have a really good time. I’m always amazed that no matter how sick the children are they can have fun. Sometimes I can’t even tell the difference between the sick kids and their siblings.
What do you miss most about not visiting the house since quarantine began? I miss the kids, the families and the volunteers. But most of all during this pandemic I miss giving back and making a difference in their lives.
“The Ronald McDonald House is such a special place. I’m so lucky to be a volunteer here. I’ve made some wonderful friendships with many of the volunteers. He parents and the kids have taught me many lessons about what’s really important in life” - Shelly Talan
Article submitted by Helena Russo, Communications Volunteer.
Finding Motivation Despite the Change in Weather
The leaves are changing and temperatures are dropping, but don’t let this stop you in your fitness journey! Here are a few tips to keep you motivated and moving even as the weather continues to change:
- Lay out your workout clothes the night before (or even sleep in them!). If you have an outfit already planned, that is one less excuse to skip your morning workout, even if your warm bed is calling your name!
- Go on a nature walk to admire the foliage. If you’re still in the NY area, the foliage is a beautiful sight and a great day excursion outside of NYC! Bring a friend to go on a leisurely hike to see the beautiful shades of orange, red, and yellow.
Submitted by Kelly Chu, Communications Volunteer
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Thank you to our Communications Volunteers for their support in collecting content for our Newsletter!