Thank You Volunteers!

Yesterday, a group of 11 volunteers from UHC came to the RMH- Oak Street to help us clean. Our mission wouldn't be possible without the dedication of groups like this. Thanks to all of our volunteer groups for their selfless efforts during this very busy holiday season!

Through the window - Former Family visits

Again, through my window I see many things here at RMH-Oak Street, but one of my favorite things is when former families come back and I recognize them as they drive in to the parking lot. Today, a great family came by for a visit and a night of BINGO before a 6 month check-up. It's great to see their smiling faces and to catch up on what they've been up to since we last saw them. Visits like this really bring joy for me and the work we do here at RMHC-UM.
The family from today in particular is fun because they have made it their mission to collect hundreds of pounds of pop tabs to help raise funds for the charity. It all started with just a few pounds and a delivery after a few months away from the RMH. Six months ago they delivered over 500 pounds, and today another 290! Hauling pop tabs in 15 degree weather isn't my favorite part of the job, but catching up with them while we worked and hearing about the first semester of high school made it all worth it in the end.

Here's a photo from the summer drop off - if only it were still flip flow weather here in Minnesota!

The New House!

It's been a long time coming, but the new House, inside Children's Hospital, Minneapolis is just a few days away from opening. There have been events all week to kick-off the opening -from a media tour on Monday, a Donor Reception on Wednesday and an all-staff and volunteer open house today. The opening of the new House is incredibly exciting because there is no geographic requirement -- we've expanded our service to local families! Thanks for sharing the excitement of the opening of a second RMH. The common areas of the new House open November 1st and overnight stays will begin in February. There are 16 bedrooms, so beginning February, we'll be serving 64 families, 365 days per year. Amazing!

(photos by Mike Krivit)

Summer Fun at the Ronald McDonald House

Fall is in the air! The Minnesota State Fair has come and gone, the U of MN students have returned to campus and to volunteering here at the House :) and the Ronald McDonald House School started last week. But before we get too far into fall, picking apples and getting ready for Halloween... we wanted to highlight some of the fun summer moments we enjoyed at the House......
we played baseball...
we sold lemonade to raise money for the house...
we made fun clay creations....
we cranked fresh ice cream...
we celebrated Jerry's 4th birthday....
we went bowling....
we made yummy pizza....
we cheered on our turtle Flash at the Turtle Derby....
we made t-shirts for the 4th of July and tie dye too...
we paddled the lakes in Minneapolis....
we had fun at the water park....
we rode horses....
we went to Faith's Lodge for Sibling Camp....
we climbed high on the rock wall....
we performed selections from Annie as part of our drama camp....
we built rockets....
then we decorated them....
and then we launched them....
we were Queens for a Day....
we made blankets...
we made beautiful beaded bracelets and zipper pulls.....
and we celebrated the end of summer with our annual Luau...
We had so much fun together!!

Here is a slide show of some of our adventures. Be sure to click the white message box in the bottom left corner to see the captions.

Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® at the State Fair

I love the State Fair and was thrilled to be in the parade with the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile this year. What a wonderful parade! The Ronald McDonald House Care Mobile was at the fair with representatives from the House both August 26th and September 2nd. The fans waved and cheered enthusiastically as we walked and drove by. The bands and various acts who are in the parade were really fun to see, too.

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile provides mobile dental care for uninsured and under-insured children and youth in the 14-county metro area. In just a year since inception, over 1,000 children have received dental care. Many of the children had never been to the dentist before.

BMW of Minnetonka, the Valet Sponsor of our annual gala, Fam Glam, provided a BMW Convertible so the Williams, a current family who are staying at the House while their daughter is receiving treatment, could ride in the Fair parade. Molly, Luke and Jean had a great time waving to the crowd as they rode in the convertible. I have to admit - I loved driving the BMW, too! Thanks, BMW for your continuing support of RMHC-UM families.

Brew Love 2010

Thanks to everyone who came out to support the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® at our first annual Brew Love event on Thursday, August 19th.

A special thank you to: Lift Bridge Brewing Company, Surly Brewing Company, Mantorville Brewing Company, Bank Beer Company, Summit Brewing Company & Crispin Cider for donating products for sampling. We couldn't have done it without you!

Stay tuned for the 2011 date for Brew Love !

RMHC is soon-to-be 300 Houses Strong!

RMHC is special for a lot of reasons, but one of the coolest things about us is we are a community that increases children's access to health care while keeping families together and strong. This sense of home and community are what RMHC is all about! The first House opened in 1974 and now the 300th is being built in St. Louis. (opens 9/29/10) We're so happy to do what we do here at our chapter, RMHC-UM. Thanks for your support!

http://rmhc.org/what-we-do/ronald-mcdonald-house/stories-1/300-times-we-ve-opened-a-house-that-love-built/

JUUT Salon, St. Paul gives back to our families!

Maria Candiotti from JUUT Salon in St Paul was here yesterday to do family haircuts, and she did an amazing job!

Here's Ryla and Noa before their 'bob' hair cuts...

And after...

Thanks Maria for donating your time to our families!

4th Annual Bids for Kids!

The 4th annual Bids for Kids is Wednesday, August 18th on myTalk 107.1. This all-day radio-a-thon is a tremendous opportunity to raise funds and awareness for RMHC-UM through interviews and vignettes featuring those who know best what RMHC-UM is all about... our families! Bids for Kids features a terrific online auction. Go take a look; it's for a great cause! http://mytalk1071.com/promotions/bidsforkids/

Sibling Camp at Faith's Lodge

At the end of June, seven wonderful siblings, two staff and two volunteers piled into the Ronald McDonald House van and headed northeast to Faith's Lodge. We were off to enjoy Sibling Camp and enjoy we did!! What an awesome group of kids!! After we settled into our beautiful rooms at Faith's Lodge, Evie showed us around. We love Evie! She welcomes us so kindly and takes such good care of us. Then we were off and running.... over the next 3 days we were busy!!
We....

• played mini golf


• ate such yummy meals- including making our own pizza


• enjoyed a bonfire


• made yummy s'mores and licked our fingers
  
• played on the new playground at Faith's Lodge


• watched great movies and ate popcorn, rice krispie bars and brownies


• made our own tie blankets- filled with a secret message to ourselves


• played on the beach at Devil Lake
  
• played in the water for a long time!!


• wrote in our sibling camp journals about our adventures


• stamped out special word beads celebrating our time together


• received camp Beads of Courage marking a unique gift about each of us and our adventures at camp
  
• soaked in the beauty of the north woods


• reminded ourselves that we are so special and sometimes change is tough
  
• relaxed a little


• rolled down the hill


• found a few ticks and some mosquitoes
  
• missed our families for a couple of minutes


• and had lots of fun together!!

Thank you Jeremiah, Brooke, Bailey, Lauren, Emily, Alyssa and Destiny! You are awesome kids and we all had such a fabulous time with you! You are kind, gentle, giving, fun and good friends! We are lucky to know you!

Volunteer Photographer Mike Krivit

Twin Cities commercial photographer, Mike Krivit, has volunteered his time and talent to shoot much needed headshots of RMHC-UM staff. They will be displayed in the House, as well as on our website. Mike is tremendously talented and we are thrilled he is a friend of RMHC-UM.

Check out Mike's website!
http://www.krivit.com/index.php

Stained Glass window installed today

Michael Pilla installed the first set of three stained glass windows at the House today. What an artist! What a gift to the families, staff and volunteers who see these beautiful windows on a daily basis. Michael's use of clear and white glass, stars and a band of blue representing the Mississippi River forms a dramatic, but calming focal point on the exterior wall of windows. As the light changes during the day, the various colors and shapes also change.

We are so fortunate to have Michael willing to give of his time and talent to make these windows a reality. Thanks also to Andersen Windows who donated the trim kits for installing the windows. Many donors accepted an invitation to make a donation, which was matched dollar for dollar, to fund this project. We look forward to the remaining windows Michael is going to create for the House. Drive by the Oak Street side of the House or stop by and ask to see the new windows.

Through the window - RMHC community events

As part of my job here at RMHC-UM I assist volunteers and organizations with events and fundraisers they hold to benefit us. Last Thursday I attended one of these events. The MENSDEPT salon in Minneapolis held a grand opening party and opened an exhibit of photography featuring today's modern man photographed by David Raccuglia. All proceeds from the photos and party will go towards supporting families staying at the Ronald McDonald House of the Twin Cities.

The event was catered by Thyme to Entertain. They donated their services and brought their latest fun cooking technique - wood fired pizza out of the back of a vintage fire truck! Sebastian Joe's also donated ice cream to the event. It was a wonderful event and the photographs by David Raccuglia are amazing. Limited edition prints can be purchased through the MENSDEPT for the next two months.

Thank you to Mike Krivit for attending the event and photographing it on behalf of RMHC-UM!

CLASSIC!

The 20th Annual Golf Classic was yesterday in Dellwood- my first ever Classic experience. I wasn't sure what to expect, but the day far surpassed my expectations. The level of dedication I saw from RMHC-UM staff was truly inspirational, but what really blew me away were the volunteers. So many hands worked together to construct this event. Meredith ran a near impeccable day, Chuck helped make it beautiful, Carynn stacked a formidable volunteer roster, and everyone else filled in wherever and however they could, and when their job was done, they looked around to see who else they could help. Well done all on a very successful Classic.