Speaking of children...
"While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about."
-- Unknown
This was a gift from a beautiful little guest at our House.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
It's Almost Post Time!
Remember the days when you were a kid and you would make big plans to play outside? You'd have a whole game of pirates or superheroes planned with your friends? Or your treehouse needed some maintenance such as making new knots in your rope swing or curtains made of leaves? [Maybe not all of you grew up playing in the woods like I did...If you didn't, these tasks may not sound important, but believe me, they were.] In any case, remember those days? You'd be really excited for the day to come, looking forward to getting down to kid business. [The best kind, I might add.]
And then it would rain.
All those big plans drowned in muddy puddles, your pirate battle delayed on account of tropical storm and your rope swing sighing at the thought of one more day with loose footings. You'd be stuck staring out the window, driving your mother crazy for the rest of the day as you restlessly sauntered about, erupting with the occasional exasperated sigh.
I'm hoping this Friday doesn't find me in the same boat. It's Wednesday, two days before our Keeneland event, and it's rainy and gross outside. The Weather Channel tells me that the forecast for Friday is sunny with a high of 71 degrees, but I'll believe it when I see it. Kentucky is famous for its turn-on-a-dime weather, which could pose as an ally or enemy...it's hard to tell. The event is inside, so I don't have to worry about relocating or anything, but people are going to be all dressed up and it's no fun to dress up and go out in the nasty rain and wind. Here's keeping my fingers crossed for 71 and sunny!
For those of you coming on Friday, it's going to be a great time rain or shine! Can't wait to see everyone and spend a day at the racetrack!
And for those of you not able to make it, pictures and full summary will be available here and on Facebook!
See you all soon!
And then it would rain.
All those big plans drowned in muddy puddles, your pirate battle delayed on account of tropical storm and your rope swing sighing at the thought of one more day with loose footings. You'd be stuck staring out the window, driving your mother crazy for the rest of the day as you restlessly sauntered about, erupting with the occasional exasperated sigh.
I'm hoping this Friday doesn't find me in the same boat. It's Wednesday, two days before our Keeneland event, and it's rainy and gross outside. The Weather Channel tells me that the forecast for Friday is sunny with a high of 71 degrees, but I'll believe it when I see it. Kentucky is famous for its turn-on-a-dime weather, which could pose as an ally or enemy...it's hard to tell. The event is inside, so I don't have to worry about relocating or anything, but people are going to be all dressed up and it's no fun to dress up and go out in the nasty rain and wind. Here's keeping my fingers crossed for 71 and sunny!
For those of you coming on Friday, it's going to be a great time rain or shine! Can't wait to see everyone and spend a day at the racetrack!
And for those of you not able to make it, pictures and full summary will be available here and on Facebook!
See you all soon!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Yet Another Social Network...
Another update -- Ronald McDonald House is now on MySpace! Check us out at
http://www.myspace.com/rmhclexington
Add us!
http://www.myspace.com/rmhclexington
Add us!
Horses and Legends, Oh My!
So, remember how a while back I compared everything happening at the house to a day at the racetrack? Well, that's kind of humorous now because we ARE hosting a day at the races! HA! In just about a week and a half [April 17th], the Ronald McDonald House is hosting a fund raising event at Keeneland where we'll eat food, watch the races and gamble...all in the name of charity. Can a fundraiser get any better? I doubt it can. All of us interns - Marla, Erin and myself - get to attend and hang out with donors all day, so we're all pretty pumped. Not only pumped about races and fun people, but also the fact that we get to dress up, which gives me a reason [and justification] to go shopping for something lovely and racetrack worthy. [I don't know if the other two girls are as excited about this as I am.] It's not going to be a bad way to spend a spring Friday in the the lovely Bluegrass.
THEN, two days later, we're having our Ronald McDonald House night at the Lexington Legends game vs. the West Virginia Power. [Also, the name "West Virginia Power"? Is it because of the coal? Or am I missing some kind of connection here?] One of the kids from the House will be throwing out the first pitch and we will have a booth where we'll be playing games and giving out fun prizes. Any and all who are reading this should attend and come say hello!
So, as you can see, many exciting things are coming up!
On a different subject, I attended a webinar [webinar: online seminar which can also include phone dial-ins. I'm not a huge fan.] on Facebook usage for non-profit organizations. It was incredbily interesting to talk about where the world of social networking is heading, especially in the realm of non-profit. They discussed fundraising, how language is different online [stiff, serious, typical non-profit language won't work], and where Facebook is going. The woman who led this webinar is also hosting one on Twitter, which I think would be the most interesting of all. Twitter is another animal all in itself, that is currently holding the record for highest ROI. Incredible. In any case, I'm trying to wrap my mind around this whole social networking/marketing realm and it's interesting to see everyone else scrambling to do the same. Exciting times ahead.
Okay, before I go I have to tell this story. A few weeks ago, Kelly [our volunteer coordinator] and I were working late on a Friday night, trying to finish up a huge pile of volunteer letters that needed to go out the following Monday. We were tired and sick of folding and addressing and just about to go crazy from it all, when we were interrupted by one of the most tantilizing smells ever smelled. A young couple who is staying at the house generously volunteered to cook dinner that night and gloriously succeeded in preparing one of the best meals the house has ever seen. Kelly and I stuffed ourselves with a chicken alfredo concoction, seasoned potatoes, mouth-watering garlic bread and...chessmen cookies. Oh my goodness, chessmen cookies. We ate so much, that upon our return to her office, we had to take a break from doing anything. You know a meal is good at that point. The best part of the meal though was talking to the couple, who are seriously two of the sweetest people I've ever met. They're young and fun, full of hope. I love seeing them around the house, which always makes me smile. So many great people and things happening here. Maybe I'll have more on them later.
Until then.
THEN, two days later, we're having our Ronald McDonald House night at the Lexington Legends game vs. the West Virginia Power. [Also, the name "West Virginia Power"? Is it because of the coal? Or am I missing some kind of connection here?] One of the kids from the House will be throwing out the first pitch and we will have a booth where we'll be playing games and giving out fun prizes. Any and all who are reading this should attend and come say hello!
So, as you can see, many exciting things are coming up!
On a different subject, I attended a webinar [webinar: online seminar which can also include phone dial-ins. I'm not a huge fan.] on Facebook usage for non-profit organizations. It was incredbily interesting to talk about where the world of social networking is heading, especially in the realm of non-profit. They discussed fundraising, how language is different online [stiff, serious, typical non-profit language won't work], and where Facebook is going. The woman who led this webinar is also hosting one on Twitter, which I think would be the most interesting of all. Twitter is another animal all in itself, that is currently holding the record for highest ROI. Incredible. In any case, I'm trying to wrap my mind around this whole social networking/marketing realm and it's interesting to see everyone else scrambling to do the same. Exciting times ahead.
Okay, before I go I have to tell this story. A few weeks ago, Kelly [our volunteer coordinator] and I were working late on a Friday night, trying to finish up a huge pile of volunteer letters that needed to go out the following Monday. We were tired and sick of folding and addressing and just about to go crazy from it all, when we were interrupted by one of the most tantilizing smells ever smelled. A young couple who is staying at the house generously volunteered to cook dinner that night and gloriously succeeded in preparing one of the best meals the house has ever seen. Kelly and I stuffed ourselves with a chicken alfredo concoction, seasoned potatoes, mouth-watering garlic bread and...chessmen cookies. Oh my goodness, chessmen cookies. We ate so much, that upon our return to her office, we had to take a break from doing anything. You know a meal is good at that point. The best part of the meal though was talking to the couple, who are seriously two of the sweetest people I've ever met. They're young and fun, full of hope. I love seeing them around the house, which always makes me smile. So many great people and things happening here. Maybe I'll have more on them later.
Until then.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Family Room Madness!
So, I've spent the last hour or so going through the numbers for our new Ronald McDonald Family Room, and upon final tally of the first three weeks of March, it turns out we've had 980 guests to the Room and 170 different families! What an awesome turnout! That's almost 300 more guests than in February and more than 750 more guests than January. That doesn't even count visitors from this past week either. It's so exciting to see the numbers going up every month and to hear stories of families from our volunteer workers.
But more on that to come very soon.
Until then.
But more on that to come very soon.
Until then.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Early Morning McTour
I just walked into the House to find the living room overtaken by a group of middle school boys who are being educated on the Ronald McDonald House by Sarah. I'm amazed because I don't think I've ever seen a group so excited to learn about the House. Every single one of them has asked at least one question.
Awesome.
Awesome.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Ronald McDonald = Rock Star
The stage was set.
Tears were shed.
The crowds were restless as they waited for his arrival.
And then, he showed up, big red shoes and all.
The children of Joseph-Beth rushed Ronald McDonald as he entered the scene, disbelief at the realization that the character on their McDonald's Happy Meal boxes was, in fact, a living and breathing entity. If you don't believe me, I would like to present Exhibit A:
The guy was like a modern day rock star. Not even Miley Cyrus would have elicited this reaction with this crowd. [Thank goodness they're too young for Miley.] Ronald hung around, made valentines, and read stories to the kids, passing out many stickers, magazines and smiles until it was nap time. A few strong ones stuck around for the encore performance of more magic tricks and pictures, all leaving completely satisfied.
All this to say, the valentine's making event at Joseph-Beth was a huge success. Not to mention, a ton of fun!
Now if only we had made some t-shirts, we could have made a profit...
Here are some more pictures for your rocking pleasure:
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Day 8 :: McTours & Conquering Facebook
Have you ever been to the races at Keeneland? You put on your cutest seersucker sundress, find the best seats that throwing elbows [politely, of course - we are in the South, after all] can find, and anxiously await that moment. You know the exact moment I'm talking about. That feverish moment when the crowd grows quiet in anticipation and the horses stomp their feet restlessly - the calm before the storm.
And then the gun is fired and pandemonium ensues.
Well, at Ronald McDonald House, consider the gun fired because we are off and running! And I'm excited to say that I'm no longer the only racehorse - ahem - intern. I'm now being joined by Erin, who will be mostly working with Debbie, and Marla, who will be Travis's pupil. I had the privilege of meeting them both yesterday morning for our McTour with Sarah. Yes, that's right - a McTour. [You can giggle a little at it if you want. I did.] In case you're wondering, a McTour consists of a full fledged tour of the House, from the main living room to the kitchen to that creepy storage room upstairs that requires you to shove the door open as much as possible before making a mad dash in the dark across the room to the light switch. I don't know whose idea it was to put the light switch out of arm's length from the door, but it wasn't a very good one. In the case that you don't make it to the light switch before the door shuts, then you have to just try to stay on your course, hoping you were going in the right direction. Conveniently, all the public relations materials are in this storage room, which I'm sure [knowing me] will pave the way for some hilarious stories of mishap down the road. Anyways, the tour did not include a mad dash for the light switch and all went according to plan. At the end of the tour we all sat down and went over our duties for the semester and talked about areas we would be overlapping in and how we could work together. After four weeks of being the only intern, I'm pretty excited to have some other people on board, too.
One thing I'm looking forward to is the upcoming event at Joseph-Beth next Saturday, which also happens to be Valentine's Day. Ronald McDonald will be there entertaining and I'll be running a booth where we'll have materials for families to make valentines for children in the critical care unit of Kentucky Children's Hospital. I'm in charge of making some mock valentines and preparing all the materials needed to make said valentines. This means cutting out a few hundred construction paper hearts, rationing glue use, and making sure kids don't ingest the glitter. I knew all those years of tutoring my mom's second graders would come in handy! In any case, I'm not a huge fan of Valentine's Day, but I have a feeling this may be the best one yet. We'll just have to see.
The most exciting part about Friday though was finally beating Facebook at its own game. For weeks now, Sarah and I have been wondering how to get a page on Facebook where members can make donations and for weeks we've come up with no answers. Until yesterday. Trying to find out how to get a causes page on Facebook is next to impossible because they hide it VERY well. But after many link clickings and wondering if Facebook has a phone number [?], I finally stumbled upon the page that allowed me to apply for a causes page. Moments after applying, RMHC of the Bluegrass got accepted and will soon be accepting donations and such online! That sounds extremely nerdy, I'm sure, but when the organization you're working for/supporting runs solely on donations, this is a big deal. In light of this, I'm assuming that a good deal of my time on Wednesday will be spent setting up that page and getting it running...much to Facebook's chagrin. [Insert semi-evil yet victorious laugh here.]
Well, it's 9.30 on a Saturday night and I have big plans with my Campaigns book and a movie and I don't want to be late! So many things to do and so little time in which to do them. I may not be wearing a seersucker dress, but the race is certainly on! :)
Until next time,
Sara Jane
And then the gun is fired and pandemonium ensues.
Well, at Ronald McDonald House, consider the gun fired because we are off and running! And I'm excited to say that I'm no longer the only racehorse - ahem - intern. I'm now being joined by Erin, who will be mostly working with Debbie, and Marla, who will be Travis's pupil. I had the privilege of meeting them both yesterday morning for our McTour with Sarah. Yes, that's right - a McTour. [You can giggle a little at it if you want. I did.] In case you're wondering, a McTour consists of a full fledged tour of the House, from the main living room to the kitchen to that creepy storage room upstairs that requires you to shove the door open as much as possible before making a mad dash in the dark across the room to the light switch. I don't know whose idea it was to put the light switch out of arm's length from the door, but it wasn't a very good one. In the case that you don't make it to the light switch before the door shuts, then you have to just try to stay on your course, hoping you were going in the right direction. Conveniently, all the public relations materials are in this storage room, which I'm sure [knowing me] will pave the way for some hilarious stories of mishap down the road. Anyways, the tour did not include a mad dash for the light switch and all went according to plan. At the end of the tour we all sat down and went over our duties for the semester and talked about areas we would be overlapping in and how we could work together. After four weeks of being the only intern, I'm pretty excited to have some other people on board, too.
One thing I'm looking forward to is the upcoming event at Joseph-Beth next Saturday, which also happens to be Valentine's Day. Ronald McDonald will be there entertaining and I'll be running a booth where we'll have materials for families to make valentines for children in the critical care unit of Kentucky Children's Hospital. I'm in charge of making some mock valentines and preparing all the materials needed to make said valentines. This means cutting out a few hundred construction paper hearts, rationing glue use, and making sure kids don't ingest the glitter. I knew all those years of tutoring my mom's second graders would come in handy! In any case, I'm not a huge fan of Valentine's Day, but I have a feeling this may be the best one yet. We'll just have to see.
The most exciting part about Friday though was finally beating Facebook at its own game. For weeks now, Sarah and I have been wondering how to get a page on Facebook where members can make donations and for weeks we've come up with no answers. Until yesterday. Trying to find out how to get a causes page on Facebook is next to impossible because they hide it VERY well. But after many link clickings and wondering if Facebook has a phone number [?], I finally stumbled upon the page that allowed me to apply for a causes page. Moments after applying, RMHC of the Bluegrass got accepted and will soon be accepting donations and such online! That sounds extremely nerdy, I'm sure, but when the organization you're working for/supporting runs solely on donations, this is a big deal. In light of this, I'm assuming that a good deal of my time on Wednesday will be spent setting up that page and getting it running...much to Facebook's chagrin. [Insert semi-evil yet victorious laugh here.]
Well, it's 9.30 on a Saturday night and I have big plans with my Campaigns book and a movie and I don't want to be late! So many things to do and so little time in which to do them. I may not be wearing a seersucker dress, but the race is certainly on! :)
Until next time,
Sara Jane
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Days 3,4,5,6,7 :: Caution: Intern Black Hole!
Whoa. Where did the last two weeks just go?
I feel as though I fell asleep and had wild dreams involving snow, no power, and a pile of school work that mimicked the mounds of snow that was EVERYWHERE, only to awake and find that that dream had actually been my life.
So, that is where I have been the last two weeks, and I'm glad to report I have emerged successfully. [Well, almost. The mounds of school work seem to only grow...] Here's a quick catch-up, Weekend Update style!
Two weeks ago found me in the House, doing mostly organizational things that wouldn't sound too exciting if I wrote about them here. You'd probably just stop reading, so I'll spare you the details and say it involved e-updates and learning to use new software. [Day 3] However, at the end of that week [23 January, Day 4], I got to go on a field trip to the children's hospital to see the new Ronald McDonald Family Room! The room had just opened a few days earlier and it looked FANTASTIC. It was clean and bright, filled with vibrant colors and felt really comfortable. We didn't stay long so as to not disturb the people who were relaxing in there, but it was great to see the room as more than just empty floorboards and piles of dust. [Like the last time I saw it.] We got to talk to one of the volunteers who was getting ready to be interviewed by the Herald-Leader about the room and the volunteers who give up their time to be there. She was nervous, but excited to share her story. The H-L didn't disappoint and put out a great article that following Monday. You can read the article here.
The following week was a whirlwind -- like awaking to find you're in an inverted Oz -- a world of white. The week of the snowstorm hit hard, taking out all of the House's power, leaving no phone, washer, or microwave untouched. Sarah called me that Wednesday and told me not to come in because there was no power. [Day 5. Classes had been cancelled for the day at UK, so I got a legit snow day! Forgot how much I love those.] But I was surprised to find upon my arrival to the House on Friday [Day 6] that it was still without power, leaving the families in the dark and cold. I walked in and was immediately greeted by Travis who was running around like a crazy man, trying to make sure everyone and everything was taken care of. [That man is a trooper, by the way, working 14 hour days during all that bad weather. Trooper.]
Evidence in posted picture.
Luckily, we were able to dig out of the snow and it was back to normal yesterday. [Day 7] It was great to be back in the House and getting stuff done! Yesterday was a day of catch up and new projects. Example: on Valentine's Day, 14 February, Ronald McDonald will be at Joseph-Beth making valentines for sick children at the Ketucky Children's Hospital, and I get to join him there for the day! In lieu of this, I get to design mock valentines for the kids to mimic AND get to be there to help them make the cards. This could seriously be the best Valentine's Day I've ever had. [Although, not many would consider this a big feat.] So, come out and make valentine's with us! We'll be there from 11am to 12pm...it would make my Valentine's Day if you showed up! OH -- and the best part -- that day, if you come spend money at Joseph-Beth, they'll make a donation from each purchase to the Ronald McDonald Family Room! So, even if you don't want to make valentines, come buy something and you''ll still be doing something good!
Well, now that I'm back and you know I'm okay, I'm going to go to bed. Loooooong day ahead of me tomorrow, but expect to hear from me.
Until then,
Sara Jane
I feel as though I fell asleep and had wild dreams involving snow, no power, and a pile of school work that mimicked the mounds of snow that was EVERYWHERE, only to awake and find that that dream had actually been my life.
So, that is where I have been the last two weeks, and I'm glad to report I have emerged successfully. [Well, almost. The mounds of school work seem to only grow...] Here's a quick catch-up, Weekend Update style!
Two weeks ago found me in the House, doing mostly organizational things that wouldn't sound too exciting if I wrote about them here. You'd probably just stop reading, so I'll spare you the details and say it involved e-updates and learning to use new software. [Day 3] However, at the end of that week [23 January, Day 4], I got to go on a field trip to the children's hospital to see the new Ronald McDonald Family Room! The room had just opened a few days earlier and it looked FANTASTIC. It was clean and bright, filled with vibrant colors and felt really comfortable. We didn't stay long so as to not disturb the people who were relaxing in there, but it was great to see the room as more than just empty floorboards and piles of dust. [Like the last time I saw it.] We got to talk to one of the volunteers who was getting ready to be interviewed by the Herald-Leader about the room and the volunteers who give up their time to be there. She was nervous, but excited to share her story. The H-L didn't disappoint and put out a great article that following Monday. You can read the article here.
The following week was a whirlwind -- like awaking to find you're in an inverted Oz -- a world of white. The week of the snowstorm hit hard, taking out all of the House's power, leaving no phone, washer, or microwave untouched. Sarah called me that Wednesday and told me not to come in because there was no power. [Day 5. Classes had been cancelled for the day at UK, so I got a legit snow day! Forgot how much I love those.] But I was surprised to find upon my arrival to the House on Friday [Day 6] that it was still without power, leaving the families in the dark and cold. I walked in and was immediately greeted by Travis who was running around like a crazy man, trying to make sure everyone and everything was taken care of. [That man is a trooper, by the way, working 14 hour days during all that bad weather. Trooper.]Evidence in posted picture.
Luckily, we were able to dig out of the snow and it was back to normal yesterday. [Day 7] It was great to be back in the House and getting stuff done! Yesterday was a day of catch up and new projects. Example: on Valentine's Day, 14 February, Ronald McDonald will be at Joseph-Beth making valentines for sick children at the Ketucky Children's Hospital, and I get to join him there for the day! In lieu of this, I get to design mock valentines for the kids to mimic AND get to be there to help them make the cards. This could seriously be the best Valentine's Day I've ever had. [Although, not many would consider this a big feat.] So, come out and make valentine's with us! We'll be there from 11am to 12pm...it would make my Valentine's Day if you showed up! OH -- and the best part -- that day, if you come spend money at Joseph-Beth, they'll make a donation from each purchase to the Ronald McDonald Family Room! So, even if you don't want to make valentines, come buy something and you''ll still be doing something good!
Well, now that I'm back and you know I'm okay, I'm going to go to bed. Loooooong day ahead of me tomorrow, but expect to hear from me.
Until then,
Sara Jane
Friday, January 16, 2009
Day Two :: Ronald, Meet Social Networking
Facebook.
Twitter.
Blog.
I think that at this moment, 4.01pm EST, the Ronald McDonald House of the Bluegrass is just about as socially wired as any college student walking around campus in their sweatpants and oversized UK hoodie [sans coat on this 8 degree day, of course]. I've spent most of the day updating events, posting notes, adding admin, changing info and Twittering. [Is "twittering" in this context an official verb? If not, I'm making it one.] Needless to say, my eyes are complaining and my fingers are ready to touch something other than a keyboard. Don't get me wrong, it's been a great day, just a day of getting settled and finding where everything stands.
Timeout -- just got a story lead in the kitchen. Back in a bit.
Okay, back. It's now 4.40pm and there is a whirlwind in the kitchen! Turns out that the Phi Theta Kappa chapter of Bluegrass Community Technical College is cooking dinner tonight and they are in a cooking frenzy. Just to reinforce proof of their organized chaos, they have a dry erase board set up on one of the counters listing every job that needs to done and at what time they need to be done and who is doing it. [I'm thinking of hiring them to run my life.] For most of them, it's their first service project as a PTK member, so this is all new to them. They are all smiles and all exuberant to be here, each of them with their own story and excited to tell it. I stood and talked with a few of them as they chopped and simmered away, listening to them tell me about themselves and why they're here. Santy told me about her studies as a travel major, to which I responded "There's a TRAVEL major?? I went to the wrong school!!" She laughed at my response and I joined her, hoping she wouldn't notice my inward disappointment. I think my favorite story that I heard was from Kristen, who is 37 and back in school studying programming. [She also has a really awesome tattoo on her arm.] I asked why she was here and her face lit up with a smile. She said that a Ronald McDonald House in Texas had really stepped up for her and her family a few years ago when they experienced a sudden death. She said that the people at RMH had gone especially out of their way to help them as they went through that hard time, and that she greatly appreciated it, even to this day. I must say, that is one thing I've noticed about volunteers here who have had a prior experience with RMH - they are still appreciative and eager to tell you about it years and years later.
Well, that's all from the house today.
-- Sara Jane
Twitter.
Blog.
I think that at this moment, 4.01pm EST, the Ronald McDonald House of the Bluegrass is just about as socially wired as any college student walking around campus in their sweatpants and oversized UK hoodie [sans coat on this 8 degree day, of course]. I've spent most of the day updating events, posting notes, adding admin, changing info and Twittering. [Is "twittering" in this context an official verb? If not, I'm making it one.] Needless to say, my eyes are complaining and my fingers are ready to touch something other than a keyboard. Don't get me wrong, it's been a great day, just a day of getting settled and finding where everything stands.
Timeout -- just got a story lead in the kitchen. Back in a bit.
Okay, back. It's now 4.40pm and there is a whirlwind in the kitchen! Turns out that the Phi Theta Kappa chapter of Bluegrass Community Technical College is cooking dinner tonight and they are in a cooking frenzy. Just to reinforce proof of their organized chaos, they have a dry erase board set up on one of the counters listing every job that needs to done and at what time they need to be done and who is doing it. [I'm thinking of hiring them to run my life.] For most of them, it's their first service project as a PTK member, so this is all new to them. They are all smiles and all exuberant to be here, each of them with their own story and excited to tell it. I stood and talked with a few of them as they chopped and simmered away, listening to them tell me about themselves and why they're here. Santy told me about her studies as a travel major, to which I responded "There's a TRAVEL major?? I went to the wrong school!!" She laughed at my response and I joined her, hoping she wouldn't notice my inward disappointment. I think my favorite story that I heard was from Kristen, who is 37 and back in school studying programming. [She also has a really awesome tattoo on her arm.] I asked why she was here and her face lit up with a smile. She said that a Ronald McDonald House in Texas had really stepped up for her and her family a few years ago when they experienced a sudden death. She said that the people at RMH had gone especially out of their way to help them as they went through that hard time, and that she greatly appreciated it, even to this day. I must say, that is one thing I've noticed about volunteers here who have had a prior experience with RMH - they are still appreciative and eager to tell you about it years and years later.
Well, that's all from the house today.
-- Sara Jane
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Day One :: Phones and Fried Chicken
Wednesday 14 January 2009
It's the first day of my internship at the Ronald McDonald House and I couldn't be more excited. I really mean that, too. I'm not just saying that because my boss and my internship supervisor will be reading this, but because it's true. No, it's not the feeling of nervousness that has taken up temporary residence in my stomach at the moment, but excitement at what is to come. From the first time I met Sarah, my boss at Ronald McDonald House, I knew this internship was going to be the best I could ever hope to find.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. At this point, I'll pause to apologize because I haven't even introduced myself, which is highly rude and also, I must say, highly uncharacteristic of me. (However, getting ahead of myself IS characteristic of me, so please adequately prepare yourself for that now.) My name is Sara Jane Roe and I am originally from Chillicothe, Ohio, which, honestly, probably sounds familiar because you've driven through on Route 23 and smelled the paper mill. Unfortunate, I know, but it really is a lovely little place despite that aforementioned unpleasant aroma on the south side of town. I am a senior at the University of Kentucky and will be graduating in May if all goes according to plan. Don't ask me what I want to do after graduation unless you have time for an afternoon spent at Starbucks. For now, we'll just say I have big dreams. And all that leads me here - the Ronald McDonald House.
So, we're back to my first day. First order of business - organizing my plastic, rolling drawers (that seem to scream "Intern!") which I will wheel out to my desk every day to aide me in my intern conquests. I lovingly fill the drawers with pads of paper covered in plaid, ball point pens, about 528 paperclips and every color of Sharpie permanent markers that the company has ever produced, promising Sarah she can steal them anytime she likes. (I may or may not have a Sharpie fetish.) This day is going off without a hitch so far! Then comes the phone. Sarah is so excited that I will have my own phone to make calls to her with...almost as if my desk isn't just outside her own office door. Her enthusiasm is infectious and I soon find myself also excited about the phone, quickly dismissing all thoughts of simply using two cans and a string instead. We set the phone up, plug it in...and nothing happens. No dial tone, nothing. We search for another phone and get blinking arrows that decide for themselves when they'll blink and when they'll disappear. It refuses to work and we dejectedly decide to eat away our disappointment.
On the way to the kitchen, Sarah informs me that Wednesday is the best day to be around for lunch at the House, due to the fact that Wednesday lunch's cook is Liz, who is famous for her southern cooking. And, boy, is Sarah telling the truth. There's homemade macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, dumplings and gravy, fried cornbread, peas, and cake. Delicious cake. All that, AND we get to eat with the cook, who turns out to be one of the sweetest ladies I have ever met or had cook for me. As we gorge ourselves with her scrumptious food, Liz tells us all kinds of stories about her family, her home and the restaurants she's owned in the past. It's easy to lose yourself in her stories because they're just so interesting. She greets everyone who comes in to eat her food and asks me about myself - where I'm from, what my family is like, if I'm excited to be here. Everything she does is so genuine and caring, you can't help but want to give it right back. She is a gentle spirit in this place, a personification of the House itself - loving, kind, genuine, and personal without being intrusive. She must be a diamond in the rough for the families who stay here, and I, myself, can't wait for next Wednesday's lunch.
We are soon joined by a woman who is in the middle of her volunteer training for the Ronald McDonald Family Room that's opening next week at the UK Hospital. She tells us how the training is going, explaining that it's much more intense than expected, but how it will be totally worth it for her. Listening to her talk about her joyful sacrificing in the name of helping others is humbling. Such a seemingly small thing for her could mean the world to someone who has a loved one in the hospital and encounters her there. Normal people doing small things that make a big difference. This is how the world is changed.
As we get up to leave and make our way out of the kitchen, we run into a new volunteer named Cheryl who will be cooking dinner tonight. We ask her what made her want to volunteer at the house and a big smile covers her face. "My family and I stayed in a Ronald McDonald House in St. Petersburg, Florida a few years ago. They helped us so much there, and now that we live here, I want to be able to give back." She is so ecstatic at being able to cook and tell her story that it's hard to imagine the pain she's been through and the tragedy that brought her here. Her story brings me to tears and I'm amazed at her strength and ability to not just give up. I won't tell the details of her story here, as I haven't yet asked if I can share them. Her story is certainly not mine to freely give. But I certainly hope that I can sometime because stories like that do nothing but breed love and strength. She'll be at the House the same days I will and I'm also looking forward to seeing much more of her.
Walking back to my desk, I can't help but think of all these stories and the hope and love that pour from them - the quiet yet giant love of Liz, the devotion of the volunteer, and the unstoppable journey of love through unimaginable pain told by Cheryl. All these people have somehow found themselves here in this House that looks nothing but normal from the outside, but is nothing short of extraordinary on the inside. Even I can feel it after being here for just a few hours - when you walk through the doors of the Ronald McDonald House, you don't just walk into a place that offers a roof over your head and a hot meal, you enter a safe haven where you discover a family you never knew you had.
I smile as I see the uncooperative phone on my desk and I am suddenly overwhelmed by the feeling that, given all I've seen today, my phone problems will all work out in the end...even if it turns out to be two cans connected by string.
Until Friday.
-- Sara Jane
It's the first day of my internship at the Ronald McDonald House and I couldn't be more excited. I really mean that, too. I'm not just saying that because my boss and my internship supervisor will be reading this, but because it's true. No, it's not the feeling of nervousness that has taken up temporary residence in my stomach at the moment, but excitement at what is to come. From the first time I met Sarah, my boss at Ronald McDonald House, I knew this internship was going to be the best I could ever hope to find.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. At this point, I'll pause to apologize because I haven't even introduced myself, which is highly rude and also, I must say, highly uncharacteristic of me. (However, getting ahead of myself IS characteristic of me, so please adequately prepare yourself for that now.) My name is Sara Jane Roe and I am originally from Chillicothe, Ohio, which, honestly, probably sounds familiar because you've driven through on Route 23 and smelled the paper mill. Unfortunate, I know, but it really is a lovely little place despite that aforementioned unpleasant aroma on the south side of town. I am a senior at the University of Kentucky and will be graduating in May if all goes according to plan. Don't ask me what I want to do after graduation unless you have time for an afternoon spent at Starbucks. For now, we'll just say I have big dreams. And all that leads me here - the Ronald McDonald House.
So, we're back to my first day. First order of business - organizing my plastic, rolling drawers (that seem to scream "Intern!") which I will wheel out to my desk every day to aide me in my intern conquests. I lovingly fill the drawers with pads of paper covered in plaid, ball point pens, about 528 paperclips and every color of Sharpie permanent markers that the company has ever produced, promising Sarah she can steal them anytime she likes. (I may or may not have a Sharpie fetish.) This day is going off without a hitch so far! Then comes the phone. Sarah is so excited that I will have my own phone to make calls to her with...almost as if my desk isn't just outside her own office door. Her enthusiasm is infectious and I soon find myself also excited about the phone, quickly dismissing all thoughts of simply using two cans and a string instead. We set the phone up, plug it in...and nothing happens. No dial tone, nothing. We search for another phone and get blinking arrows that decide for themselves when they'll blink and when they'll disappear. It refuses to work and we dejectedly decide to eat away our disappointment.
On the way to the kitchen, Sarah informs me that Wednesday is the best day to be around for lunch at the House, due to the fact that Wednesday lunch's cook is Liz, who is famous for her southern cooking. And, boy, is Sarah telling the truth. There's homemade macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, dumplings and gravy, fried cornbread, peas, and cake. Delicious cake. All that, AND we get to eat with the cook, who turns out to be one of the sweetest ladies I have ever met or had cook for me. As we gorge ourselves with her scrumptious food, Liz tells us all kinds of stories about her family, her home and the restaurants she's owned in the past. It's easy to lose yourself in her stories because they're just so interesting. She greets everyone who comes in to eat her food and asks me about myself - where I'm from, what my family is like, if I'm excited to be here. Everything she does is so genuine and caring, you can't help but want to give it right back. She is a gentle spirit in this place, a personification of the House itself - loving, kind, genuine, and personal without being intrusive. She must be a diamond in the rough for the families who stay here, and I, myself, can't wait for next Wednesday's lunch.
We are soon joined by a woman who is in the middle of her volunteer training for the Ronald McDonald Family Room that's opening next week at the UK Hospital. She tells us how the training is going, explaining that it's much more intense than expected, but how it will be totally worth it for her. Listening to her talk about her joyful sacrificing in the name of helping others is humbling. Such a seemingly small thing for her could mean the world to someone who has a loved one in the hospital and encounters her there. Normal people doing small things that make a big difference. This is how the world is changed.
As we get up to leave and make our way out of the kitchen, we run into a new volunteer named Cheryl who will be cooking dinner tonight. We ask her what made her want to volunteer at the house and a big smile covers her face. "My family and I stayed in a Ronald McDonald House in St. Petersburg, Florida a few years ago. They helped us so much there, and now that we live here, I want to be able to give back." She is so ecstatic at being able to cook and tell her story that it's hard to imagine the pain she's been through and the tragedy that brought her here. Her story brings me to tears and I'm amazed at her strength and ability to not just give up. I won't tell the details of her story here, as I haven't yet asked if I can share them. Her story is certainly not mine to freely give. But I certainly hope that I can sometime because stories like that do nothing but breed love and strength. She'll be at the House the same days I will and I'm also looking forward to seeing much more of her.
Walking back to my desk, I can't help but think of all these stories and the hope and love that pour from them - the quiet yet giant love of Liz, the devotion of the volunteer, and the unstoppable journey of love through unimaginable pain told by Cheryl. All these people have somehow found themselves here in this House that looks nothing but normal from the outside, but is nothing short of extraordinary on the inside. Even I can feel it after being here for just a few hours - when you walk through the doors of the Ronald McDonald House, you don't just walk into a place that offers a roof over your head and a hot meal, you enter a safe haven where you discover a family you never knew you had.
I smile as I see the uncooperative phone on my desk and I am suddenly overwhelmed by the feeling that, given all I've seen today, my phone problems will all work out in the end...even if it turns out to be two cans connected by string.
Until Friday.
-- Sara Jane
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