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Volunteer Newsletter: From Our House to Yours | Issue II

Ronald McDonald House New York has created a new Volunteer Newsletter to keep our community engaged, supported and connected while we are unable to have volunteers at the House due to the COVID-19 outbreak. We hope you enjoy it, from our House to yours!

Families have been hanging signs outside of their rooms, to thank our staff and volunteers for keeping the House open and caring for them amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thank you to all who celebrated National Volunteer Week with us by joining our virtual wellness classes taught by our very own Wellness Volunteers! For more resources, feel free to check out our Ronald McDonald House New York YouTube Channel to find more classes, kids activities and resources we've put together for our families and community to virtually connect you to programs of the House.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHALLENGE

In celebration of Earth Day, enjoy these fun family resources that allow you to explore animals, parks and landmarks straight from the comforts of home!

Find Your Next Adventure!

National Park Service has a new Junior Ranger program for kids while the parks cannot be visited. Additionally, the National Park Service has virtual visits to national parks all across the United States. Have fun exploring!

World Wildlife Fund has posted awesome daily activity plans for kids while schools are closed. So far, they have posted 4 full weeks of the Wild Classroom.

The San Francisco Exlporatorium has some amazing simple hands-on science experiments that you can filter by subject area: astronomy and space, genetics, geology, environmental science, and more. You can also sign up for their newsletter and get at home activities and programs for kids and adults.

National Geographic Kids has a great kid friendly website with games, videos, and tons of informational materials about animals, places, and the world. In celebration of Earth Day, I recommend going to the Kids vs. Plastic page and learning about how you can reduce your plastic use.

NYC Government Parks is making it easier for us to appreciate our Earth! Check out their website to watch live streams from the Bronx Zoo, videos with Urban Park Rangers, walks through different parks each Wednesday, home gardening tips and more!

New York Landmarks Conservancy is allowing you to tour the city from you home. New York might be on pause, but the vibrant energy is still alive and well. Become a tourist in New York by exploring this "Tourist in your own Town" video series. There are videos of lots of iconic New York landmarks and museums included.

Resources Submitted by Kelly Quane and Andrea Boitnott

Ask your Community to Support the House

Many volunteers have still been working hard at asking their friends and families to help support our Heroes Volunteer Event. Although the event will be post-poned if possible, we are in need of funds to support our families now more than ever. With dozens of the House's fundraising events getting cancelled, all funds raised are crucial to continuing to support the families at the House during this difficult time. If you haven't already, please make a fundraising page on our website or Facebook and send out the link to your community.

DIY AT HOME

Candle making instructions by Coli Bacharach, Communications Volunteer & graphic created by Kelly Quane, Communications Volunteer

Tips To Stay Active While in Quarantine

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking (fun fact that I learned while writing this article – the 10,000 steps per day guideline isn’t entirely accurate!). This equals roughly 20-30 minutes of activity per day. Here are a few tips that you can follow to stay active while in quarantine!

  1. Go for a 15-30 minute walk once per day – either outside or inside your house/apartment! If you’re going outside, don’t forget your masks and to stay at least 6 feet away from other pedestrians. If you’re counting steps, a 30 min walk equals 3,000-4,000 steps.
  2. Make sure to stand for at least 1 minute every hour for 10-12 hours per day! Especially if you’re working remotely, standing for that 1 minute per hour will loosen your hip muscles and allow blood flow to your legs. I usually take a bathroom break or refill my water bottle!
  3. If you don’t need to present or take notes during conference calls, pace around your working area or stretch while listening to the call (just make sure your webcam is off!). It’s very easy to stay seated for extended periods of time when you don’t have to go from office to office for meetings throughout the day.
  4. Take the stairs when entering/leaving your apartment (if you don’t live TOO high up). Especially if you’re worried about germs in crowded elevators, now might be the time to take the stairs to your apartment! Don’t forget to bring Lysol wipes with you in case you need to hold on to the railing or open any doors. If you live in a house, you can go up and down the stairs as mini breaks throughout the day!

Article Submitted by Kelly Chu, Communications Volunteer

Volunteer Spotlight

Drew Blumenthal

Volunteer: Monday Night Volunteer

Profession: Digital Advertising Agency Owner

Volunteer Background: When I was 22 my mother passed away from stage four colon cancer. Ever since then I wanted to give back and help fight cancer in any way I could. Volunteering helps the parents just as much as the kids and by providing joy each week I’m able to help increase the morale of the families which helps increase the rate of survival.

Years Volunteering at the House: 2.5

Favorite Activities at the House: Sock Hop & Wacky Hat Night

Drew's Experience Volunteering: At the end of last year a little girl at the House, who I'd become close with drew a picture of me and her and gave it to me to keep. To this day that picture is still on my office desk. Also, a few months ago I was walking in the street right by the house and a kid who remembered me jumped out behind me and shouted my name! That’s when you really know you’ve made a difference.

"This place is more than somewhere to go every week to volunteer but a place to feel good and give back. It is somewhere I can go and know that I’ll be doing good for the world while also enjoying myself at the same time. Going to the house is as much fun for me as it is for these kids." - Drew Blumenthal

Article Submitted by Helena Russo, Communications Volunteer

Send in book recommendations for our next Newsletter by emailing dstarfield@rmh-newyork.org

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Thank you to our Communications Volunteers for their support in collecting content for our Newsletter!