Orange County Ronald McDonald House Hosts 2nd Toy Drive

TOY DRIVE LIFTS SPIRITS AND BRINGS HOLIDAY CHEER TO FAMILIES

AT THE ORANGE COUNTY RONALD McDONALD HOUSE®

Recently, I was contacted by someone who works with the Orange County Ronald McDonald House about their 2nd annual toy drive.  All the toys donated are given to the children who are staying at a Ronald McDonald House.  The OC Ronald McDonald House provides a home-away-from home this holiday for families whose children are receiving medical treatments at Orange County hospitals.  The toy drive is this coming Friday the 13th and Saturday the 14th and they are asking for people in the community to stop by the event, enjoy some food and beverages and bring an unwrapped new toy or gift to the House.  My family is planning on stopping by on Saturday as I think it is important for my daughter to see what it means to do for others.  As a parent,  just the thought of childhood cancers seriously hurts my heart and  I can’t even image what these families and children are going through – so I am more than happy to help in any way I can!  Please join in if you are local – or you can contact them to see if they will accept toys via mail.

WHAT: The Orange County Ronald McDonald House®, a program of Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Southern California (RMHCSC), will be a “home-away-from-home” this holiday season for families whose children are receiving medical treatment at nearby hospitals. To help bring happiness and cheer to those parents and children, the House is hosting its 2nd Annual Toy Drive. Individuals and groups can drop off a new, unwrapped toy or gift at the House and enjoy festive food and beverages. Those who arrive in their most festive holiday gear will also have a chance to win prizes.

For a suggested list of items and additional details, visit https://www.ronaldhouseoc.org/ or call 714-639-3600.

COST: Donation of a new, unwrapped toy

WHEN: Friday, December 13, 2013 12 – 8 p.m. AND Saturday, December 14, 2013 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

WHERE: 383 South Batavia St., Orange, CA 92868

WHY: The Orange County Ronald McDonald House opened in 1989 adjacent to CHOC Children’s and within proximity to UCI Medical Center and St. Joseph’s Hospital. It offers low-cost, and often free, temporary housing for families who travel long distances while their children receive treatment at nearby medical facilities. Since opening the 20-room House has welcomed more than 10,000 families from more than 22 countries. In 1999, the House extended its services to the hospital setting by opening a Ronald McDonald Family Room® inside CHOC Children’s at Mission in Mission Viejo. The two-room facility provides an “oasis” for parents with children in pediatric or neonatal intensive care units, allowing them a chance to sleep, shower and recharge while remaining within steps of their hospitalized child. The second Southern California Family Room opened in 2007 at CHOC Children’s in Orange. The Family Rooms feature guest rooms, a living room with a plasma screen television, games for children, a kitchenette and a family resource library with computers.

RMHCSC provides comfort, care and support to children and families in Southern California through several programs including: six Ronald McDonald Houses; two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, an oasis inside the hospital for parents with children in the pediatric and neonatal intensive care units; Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times®, a free, medically-supervised, sleep-away camp where children with cancer can process their diagnosis and restore their self-esteem; four scholarship programs for graduating high school seniors; and a community grants board, which provides much-needed funding to local nonprofit organizations.

For a suggested list of items and additional details, visit https://www.ronaldhouseoc.org/ or call 714-639-3600.