Heart of the House April Newsletter

Heart of the House

April 2024

A Note from the CEO

Dear Friends,

April is National Volunteer Month and I want to thank the men and women who give their time and talent to Ronald McDonald House Charities Greater Houston. From the first friendly face and voice that a family encounters, to serving meals, organizing donations, supervising activities, setting up rooms, replenishing snacks and so much more, our volunteers are at the very core of our success. They work in our Houses, hospital lounges and family rooms, as well as at our events in the community. If you are interested in sharing some of your time to volunteer with us, please click here to visit our website and get involved!

In other news, we had our own version of March Madness when the McDonald's All-American girls' and boys' basketball teams came to visit Holcombe House. These talented high school athletes from all over the country took part in activities with our kiddos and fun memories were made. We are so appreciative of their support and wish them the best of luck at the Games.

With gratitude,

Cristina Vetrano

Chief Executive Officer

House Happenings

McDonald's All American Team Visits the House

Holcombe House welcomed the girls and boys of the 2024 All American Team on Saturday, March 30. These talented athletes from across the country, including Houston’s own Me'Arah O'Neal (Episcopal High School) and Justice Carlton (Seven Lakes High School) toured Ronald McDonald House, made t-shirts and friendship bracelets with families, played outside with bubbles and hula hoops, and even shot a few baskets with our kiddos. Laughter and joy filled the house as everyone embraced their inner child.

The McDonald’s All-American Games don't just bring the best basketball talent together for a sporting event; The Games are bigger than basketball and have supported RMHC since their inception in 1978. The event and corresponding activities have raised millions of dollars for RMHC and its network of local chapters. The 2024 games, held at Toyota Center on April 2, will benefit the Greater Houston Region.

Outdoor Spaces are Healing Places

To match the vibrant colors of spring, our outdoor pavilion and picnic tables got fresh coats of paint. Colorful ceiling panels, bright picnic tables and a sunny floor all come together to make a joyful, welcoming space for families to enjoy time outdoors. We also added some playful patio furniture including balloon dogs and rolling chairs which are already a hit with our kiddos.

Outdoor space is an important part of our facility on Holcombe House. From our community pavilion to our accessible playground to the quiet benches to sit and reflect - we have designed the space with our families' unique needs in mind. Our outdoor space continues to evolve and there is more we would like to do to enhance the area for our families. If you are interested in learning more about our future plans, please contact Cristina at cvetrano@rmhchouston.org.

Family Stories

When the Scott Family came to Holcombe House they were overwhelmed by the domino effect of their child's medical crisis. Their home, jobs and finances were impacted, and they didn’t know where to turn. Watch the video to learn how Ronald McDonald House Charities Greater Houston helped the Scott family, not just during their stay, but long after.

Donate to help other families like the Scotts

Volunteer Corner

April is Volunteer Month

National Volunteer Month is a time to celebrate and recognize the contributions that volunteers make to our community. Many non-profit organizations like ours depend on the work of volunteers to fulfill their missions, whether it's caring for families, feeding the hungry or planting trees.

Since the pandemic, there has been a nationwide decline in the overall number of people who volunteer. The latest reports show that just a little more than 23% of Americans formally volunteered with an organization. This is the lowest percentage of volunteerism since tracking began in the early 2000's.

At RMHC, we are incredibly grateful that many of our volunteers returned after the pandemic and new volunteers continue to sign up individually as well as in groups. In fact, in 2023, our volunteers served more than 18,900 hours and saved us more than $600,000 in labor costs! Despite these amazing numbers, we are continually looking for new volunteers who share our passion for helping children and families. If you are already a volunteer, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. If you haven't volunteered yet, we invite you to learn more!

Check out our Instagram this month to see RMHC Greater Houston's volunteer appreciation posts!

Get Involved!

Hospital Highlights

Self Care With Buff City Soap

A team from Buff City Soap visited the cancer unit at Texas Children's Hospital on March 25 to treat our parents and caregivers to a self-care activity.

Almost twenty ladies enjoyed a brief respite from their child's medical environment to join a workshop on making scented lotions, bath soaks, shower steamers, sugar scrubs and even laundry detergent. Participants selected from fragrances like Lemongrass Eucalyptus, Honey Oatmeal and Pomegranate to scent their products before boxing up the goodies to take home.

When caring for a sick family member, many parents don't feel that they should take time for themselves. With the generous help of companies like Buff City Soaps, we can provide caregivers with small moments of enjoyment and camaraderie during a very difficult and stressful time.

RMHC Around Town

Round Up for RMHC!

Next time you go to McDonald's for a Big Mac or those famously crispy fries, don't forget to Round up for RMHC! Here's how:

In-Store Kiosk - You can select Round Up as a menu item when you order on the kiosk.
In-Store Cashier or Drive thru- Let the cashier know that you'd like to Round Up your total when you place your order.
Donation Box - Small change adds up to make a big difference!

In addition, one penny from every Happy Meal supports RMHC. Donations made at the more than 300 Greater Houston McDonald's directly benefit our local programs. Thank you to the Greater Houston McDonalds Owner Operators who have made Round Up a priority!

Moments of Joy

In March, things were lively around the House with the anticipation of springtime. As the days warmed up, we spent more time outdoors. Our kiddos planted flowers, learned about alligators from the Parks & Wildlife, and enjoyed an Easter Egg hunt hosted by the Super Joey Foundation.

Dates to Remember

Volunteer Month

Throughout April, we recognize and appreciate the dedication and hard work of our volunteers.

April 2

McDonald's All-American Games

The most talented high school basketball players from across the country will play at Toyota Center. Proceeds benefit RMHC.

April 8

Lunar Eclipse

We will have a week of space-themed activities to commemorate the full lunar eclipse.

April 13

Sabercats Game

One of our kiddos will be the Honorary Team Captain.

April 18

Volunteer Appreciation Event

April 26

Field Day at Holcombe House

The House will be transformed into Olympic Park for our Whole-Family Field Day. There will be games for all abilities, prizes, and a visit by the Sabercats.

April 27

Sabercats Game

One of our kiddos will be the Honorary Team Captain.

Smilin' Rylen Run

Lace up and run in this 1 mil/5 k which benefits RMHC Greater Houston and other local non profits.