Marvelous Monday, Featuring Julie & Hope

Today's Marvelous Monday post celebrates two amazing volunteers. Oftentimes, we share stories about the friendships children and families find at the Ronald McDonald House. Today, we're sharing and celebrating the friendship two volunteers found.


Julie and Hope have volunteered in our school for six years.

Six years ago, Julie and Hope met as "Thursday morning" volunteers in our school. Because each of our students has an individual curriculum, most of the teaching is done on a one-to-one basis. Our teacher, Mrs. Britain, plans the curriculum and teaches the concepts,  then students are paired with volunteers to complete their work. As you can imagine, we need a lot of help! Most mornings and afternoons, we have at least 2 volunteers in the classroom. Julie and Hope have been devoted volunteers. They've added shifts when there are higher numbers of students in  school and are flexible with taking on other tasks when the numbers in the classroom go down. They have supervised recess, added and multiplied, spelled and read (and read and read). Through their volunteer experience, they have become lifelong friends.  

(Julie and Hope write)
For six years, the two of us have met every Thursday in the Ronald McDonald House classroom. We have been blessed to meet children from all over the country and all over the world. With ages ranging from 5-15, we have experienced life in the classroom from the eyes of all grade levels. The common thread, however, is the intense need for love and community. It has been an honor for us to meet in a place where the values are so real and important. The kids are amazing, and though their lives are difficult and their days unpredictable, they learn to cope and rise to the occasion of what is expected of them at school. We have learned more from these students than anything we could have taught them. It is a true pleasure to volunteer in the school.

Thank you, Julie and Hope, for your heartfelt service to children in need. You are truly marvelous!