by Angie Hartley
During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it is easy to forget the little things. Often we may take them for granted because they have always been there, but what happens when they no longer are?
Sometimes it’s the little things that are most important to our families. It’s a warm meal, clean clothes, comfortable bed, and friendly smile to help you get through the hard times. This is all made possible through the generosity of our community.
Each year we ask our the community to support the Ronald McDonald House any way they can, and each year I hear people say, “I know what I’m doing isn’t a lot, but I want to help.” What they don’t realize is they are helping in a big way! You don’t have to be a doctor, fireman, or superhero to make a significant difference in someone’s life. You just have to have the passion to give back however you can. For some, it may be through monetary or in-kind donations, and for others it may be through their time and talents, but for our families, your support means the world to them.
For nearly four years, I have had the privilege to work as the Development Director of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio. I know how important the Ronald McDonald House is to families of seriously-ill children and I have seen first-hand how generous our community is. Each day, we have volunteers who spend their time in the evening supporting our families after a long day of work. We have donors who generously give as they are able to support nights of rest for our families. And we have groups that have collected so many wish list items they come in by the carload. It is all of these things that help us make our House a home for our families. While some may say their actions are small, they are big to us!
As we come to the end of another year, I want to send a special thank you to everyone who supports RMHC. Thank you for donating your time, talents and treasures to make our House a home for families of seriously-ill children. We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without each of you. I wish you all a Happy Holiday and best wishes for the New Year!