The Ronald McDonald House is a home away from home for families of seriously or chronically ill or injured children receiving treatment at area hospitals by offering nurturing and supportive environments where families can stay together and find comfort. The Wilmington, DE House is a home complete with comfy guest rooms, fully equipped kitchens, playrooms, teen room, theater, salon, fitness center, pet therapy dogs, free cooked dinner, stocked pantry and so much more. There isn’t anything they have forgotten to make these family the most comfortable they can be in the stressful situation they are in. I watched it become a simple 27 room house to a 50 room state of the art masterpiece. This was made possible by the amazing efforts that raised $5.8M.

I became familiar with Ronald McDonald House Charities about 4-5 years ago. I volunteered 1 day a week for a few hours. My duties included cleaning the kitchen, taking guests to their room, fetching clean towels or sheets if needed, talking to families who needed an ear, accepting dropped off donations and really anything that needed to be done. Ronald McDonald House Charities does have an employed staff but without volunteers they couldn’t provide the level of service that has come to be expected not only in Wilmington, DE but at the almost 300 Ronald McDonald houses around the world.

In all the stress, heartache, pain and anxiety related to caring for sick child there can be a glimmer of hope. The Turnerwagnerbeitzlehmkuhlewydoherty family is evidence of that.

The amazing story of the Turners, Wagners, Beitzes, Lehmkuhls, Ewys and Dohertys began in the fall of 2000, when six women gave birth to seven premature infants. As often happens, complications arose and the babies required long and often difficult hospital stays. To be close to the hospital, all of the families moved into the nearby Ronald McDonald House in Wichita.


It was there that an unbreakable bond began to form. Six families, all going through the same ordeal, came to rely on one another. There was always a shoulder to cry on, a hug to be found or a few simple words to get someone through a bad day. No one ever gave up hope because no one ever felt alone.


And every year since, all six families meet for a very special reunion. Smiles and hugs are the order of the day as six families and seven very happy and healthy children renew a very special friendship.


A friendship that would not have been formed without your help.

Read this story from one of the mothers

Take a moment and think about what you can do for others in your area. Stop by your local Ronald McDonald House, apply to volunteer, drop off some groceries, visit McDonalds for a cheeseburger and drop your change into the donation box or work with your community or employer to volunteer as a group and cook a hot delicious meal for these families in need. All donations made by December 31 will be matched by an anonymous donor from the Ray Kroc Heritage Society (to a total of $1 million). Plus, many companies match charitable donations as well. Search to see if your employer does, and your donation could really add up!

More than 50 well-known entertainers and athletes will participate in Stars for a Wish, an online auction of autographed pediped® baby shoes to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The auction will run Oct. 25-Nov. 1 on Charity Buzz.

Celebrities who signed pediped® baby shoes for the auction include:
Angie Harmon, Halle Berry, Pierce Brosnan, Andy Garcia, Tiger Woods, Tim Allen, Giada De Laurentis, Courtney Cox Arquette, Marcia Cross, Jennie Garth, Whoopi Goldberg, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Heidi Klum, Charlie Sheen, Jon Stewart, Laila Ali-Conway, Faith Hill, Sugarland, Jerome Bettis, Nancy O’Dell, Shaquille O’Neal, David Ortiz and MANY MORE

Bidding will start at $250 for the signed shoes. Recipients will receive the shoes attractively displayed in a cherry-finished shadow box or clear acrylic box complete with an engraved plaque.

The Stars for a Wish fundraiser has a minimum goal of $25,000, which will help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Join us in helping the Make-A-Wish Foundation grant wishes to these courageous children by participating in our first ever Stars for a Wish celebrity auction.

One-hundred percent of the funds raised through the auction will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Chances are we’ve all experienced or know someone who has experienced hunger. It’s an epidemic in this country; 31 million people will miss at least one meal today, too many of them children and senior citizens. Shoprite’s Partners in Caring is trying to do something about that. When you purchase specially marked items within Shoprite’s stores you support one of 50 plus companies whose donations help hunger-fighting charities in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware and Pennsylvania. These means every time you pick up that bottle of juice, can of vegetables, tube of toothpaste or box of pasta you are helping YOUR community fight the hunger pains. Each Shoprite is working directly with local charities so your Shoprite’s Partners in Caring purchases are being received by neighborhood food banks, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, senior programs, battered women’s shelters, rehab centers and after school programs.

Since its beginning in 1999, Shoprite’s Partners in Caring program has donated more than $20 million in food and other products to its communities. With partners like General Mills, Kraft, Nabisco, Procter & Gamble and many others fighting hunger I easier than you think. Purchase a product that has a Shoprite Partners in Caring tag and the manufacturer will make a donation to the program, that simple.

Shoprite’s Partner in Caring wants you to give your support. General Mills will donate one box of cereal to a local food bank for each of the first 30 comments left on this post.