Embracing the spirit of giving doesn’t have to end on December 31st. As we clean up our homes and throw out our leftovers, we can reflect on how best to serve our community year-round. There are many ways to make giving back a part of our busy lives.
1. Bake it ’til you make it
Baking sweet treats is a thoughtful way to let families staying at Ronald McDonald House know you care. Our baking program, Treats from the Heart, is anyone. Popular among school-aged children and their grown-ups, Treats from the Heart is a flexible and approachable option. It’s a perfect program for Scouts, Honors Society, faith-based groups, Greek organizations and families. Some simple and popular things to make are:
- Fruit skewers
- Cookies
- Cupcakes
- Trail mix bags
- Dipped pretzels and Oreos
- Muffins
- Brownies
- Rice krispie treats
- Chocolate-covered fruit
Click here to learn more about Treats from the Heart and to sign up!
2. Drive your heart out
Our volunteers are on the move, just like our families. Every day, families rely on our volunteers to drive them to and from appointments. A great way to give back, volunteer van drivers are responsible for making sure our families access the best care for their child. Volunteer van drivers also pick-up donations, drop-off essentials to our Family Rooms in Stony Brook, and help set up events. All in all, van drivers put the pedal to the metal for our families and we couldn’t do it without them!
Click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer van driver!
3. Let’s get cooking!
Volunteering to make a hearty and delicious meal is #1 on our wish list! Perfect for corporate teams, large family groups, and organizations, folks can plan their menu and cook in one of our state-of-the-art kitchens. A maximum of 12 people is welcome to book a cooking time slot in our Meals from the Heart Program. Some go-to menu options include:
Brunch Program: Menu Ideas
- Egg bites with sausage and blueberry muffins
- Pancakes and bacon with scrambled eggs
- Southwest frittata with coffee cake
- Biscuits and gravy with fruit salad
- Turkey hash with Belgian waffles
Dinner Program: Menu Ideas
- Spaghetti and meatballs with garden salad
- Mexican-inspired lasagna with street corn
- Chicken parmigiana with vodka sauce and salad
- Oven-fried chicken with baked potatoes
- Turkey with sweet potatoes and green beans
When you’re done cooking, we ask all volunteers to package the dinners in to-go boxes for our 40 resident families to grab on their way to and from the hospital. Simple, but loving gestures like making a hot meal can go a long way in making someone’s day a little easier. Click here to sign-up for our Meals from the Heart program!
4. Lend a helping hand (from anywhere!)
The Community Champions program is a perfect way for families, social groups, and organizations to get together and contribute remotely. Our on-the-go kits are perfect for families who are busy running back and forth to doctor’s visits, work, school, and beyond. Often, we hand out these kits to families at the beside as part of our Hospitality Cart program.
Some examples of these kits include:
- Breakfast On the Go: Shelf-stable milk, granola bars, mini cereal boxes, fresh fruit, apple sauce pouches and more.
- Welcome Bags: Slippers, eye masks, fidget toys, puzzles, snacks, self-care items, beauty care products, and more.
- Snack Time Surprise Kits: Kid-friendly snacks, chips, fruit snacks, shelf-stable yogurt, juice boxes, crackers and more.
- NICU Care Kits: Onesies, hats, mittens, infant toys, teethers, diaper cream, lotion, wipes and more.
Folks can assemble these kits at work or home and schedule a drop-off with our front desk. To learn more about Community Champions, visit our website!
5. FUN(draising) for Stony Brook
RMHC New York Metro is building a new Ronald McDonald House in Stony Brook, set to open in 2027. This $30 million project will offer care, comfort, and overnight accommodations to sick children and families near Suffolk County’s only children’s hospital. You may have heard, Laurel Hill School completed the first school fundraiser for the project! Now, you can run your own FUNdraiser . Click here to learn about how you can help.
RMHC New York Metro currently operates two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms at Stony Brook Children’s and a 42-bedroom Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park, supporting over 7,000 families annually. The new Ronald McDonald House would be the second facility of its kind on Long Island with 30-bedrooms with private bathrooms, a media center, playrooms, a playground, communal kitchens, and more.
6. Take on a leadership role
From New Hyde Park to Stony Brook, we are always looking for willing participants to join our leadership councils. These roles are open to applicants and can include folks with backgrounds in philanthropy and non-profits or other corporations.
Joining an RMHC New York Metro advisory council means you get to use your unique skills and affiliations to assist and support RMHC New York Metro families. Through exciting fundraising events and initiatives such as Fall Celebration, Gala, golf outings, comedy shows, and more, we empower our Advisory Council leadership to make these events memorable and fun! All fundraising events and commitments would be based close to Queens and Long Island.
To learn more about joining an advisory committee or council, click here.