Volunteer Newsletter: From Our House to Yours| Issue XI
Ronald McDonald House New York is stepping up for our families with our September Step Challenge.
Each year, more than 300,000 kids are diagnosed with cancer and 300,000 families across the world receive the devastating news that their child has cancer. While the advancements of treatment for childhood cancer has increased over the years, cancer is still the #1 cause of death by disease for children in America.
Many children and families battling childhood cancer travel to New York City to access the life-saving treatment and clinical trials they cannot access anywhere else. While these families travel far from home to New York City, Ronald McDonald House New York is able to provide a supportive and compassionate home-away-from-home at our 95-room temporary home located just steps from partnering hospitals. Ronald McDonald House New York provides more than just a place for families to rest their heads at night, our House is built on the foundation of a community who understand what one another is battling.
Today, we are asking our community of supporters to step up in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Join us as we commit to taking one step forward for each child who is diagnosed with childhood cancer each year. 300,000 steps in 30 days is our goal. Will you step up this September for children battling childhood cancer?
I will never know what its like to walk in their shoes so I walk with them.
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 October 28- November 11 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!
NFL – Zoom Art Party 8/25/20
The NFL, longtime RMH-NY dinner hosts, provided dinner and a virtual activity for the families. Dinner was delivered to the rooms on Tuesday, August 25th, with a gift bag filled with Art Supplies. After dinner the families were invited to join The NFL Volunteer Team for a Zoom virtual paint party. It was an entertaining paint lesson not only for our kids but for the NFL Volunteers too, Megan, Aubrey, Usama, Will, Darrel and their team paint instructor Deirdra.
The team came to the call with their canvases and brushes ready to paint and music to set the mood. As Deirdra started off the lesson with the brush technique for the sky, the rest of the team was chatting with the families, they found out that Dylan is not a football fan, he’s a soccer fan and he has more than one favorite color, Red, Gold, Black & Purple. Dylan also shared that he likes drawing more than painting and showed everyone his transformer superhero drawings which were spectacular, clearly, he knew a little more about art than the rest of the group.
The fun conversation and lesson continued as everyone learned how to add grass to the painting. It was no surprise to former NFL players Usama and Darrell Young when Dylan revealed his painting that he had painted a soccer ball on the lawn of his canvas. Everyone on the call enthusiastically shared their great artwork. Thank you to the NFL Volunteer Team for a fun evening activity at the House via Zoom.
Submitted by Helena Russo
Lori Robb
Volunteer: Friday Night Team
Profession: Medical Secretary
Years Volunteering at the House: 5 1/2 years
How you got involved: Many years ago, I would come to the house to do wishes for Make A Wish kids from out of state. I thought this is an amazing place and I applied to be a Volunteer.
Favorite Activity: Arts & Crafts with the kids.
Volunteer Goal: Is to be a “Happiness Ambassador” and put smiles on all the children and their families faces.
Best Personal Experience: When I come up with a project and then the children put their special touches on it. I love their imagination.
““RMH-NY is a warm and inviting place for those who are suffering. It is like coming home to a family when you can’t go home”- Lori Robb
Article Submitted by Helena Russo, Communications Volunteer
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