April 27th, 2017
When you take a minute to ask our volunteers why they choose the Ronald McDonald House to be the place they donate their time and talents, you’ll get a variety of answers. Some say after they retired they felt a need to do something more, some feel fulfilled by giving back to an organization that once helped them or a close friend or family member, and some came through our doors as visitors and were so drawn in by our mission and what we do- they never looked back. However, most will tell you that they want to make a difference and that is exactly what they do year round.
Our 550+ volunteers keep our House running smoothly by managing our front office, maintaining common areas and kitchens, transporting families to and from the hospital in our van, performing a variety of housekeeping tasks, making up our guest rooms, beautifying our Secret Garden, and taking our guest families to make lasting memories in our Magic Room.
Our volunteers travel to serve at RMHC from a variety of different areas in Wisconsin and Illinois. We have mother-daughter duos, husband-wife teams, high school students, and many who are spending their retirement serving others.
Our volunteers come from many different backgrounds, age groups, and ethnicities, however their desire to make a difference is what brings them all together. Every volunteer at the RMHC goes above and beyond by trying their best to comfort our guest families and make them feel at home in a time of uncertainty. Whether offering a kind word, a smile, or a box of tissues, our volunteers treat each guest family member as if they were their own.
We appreciate all that our volunteers do each day, however this week in particular, we would like to send our most sincere thanks and gratitude to our volunteers for all that they do for each family that stays here. Happy Volunteer Appreciation Week! Each and every one of you truly make a difference!
My name is Laura Schenk, and I am a Volunteer and Family Services intern. I am a senior at Carroll University, studying Public Health and Healthcare Administration. While my final semester is wrapping up and graduation is just around the corner I reflect on my time here at the House. I feel so honored to have gotten to know so many of our volunteers, and I truly admire the passion they have for their roles. Thank you volunteers for all that you do, and for welcoming me with open arms!