What an exciting time we had Thursday, June 12th! No one expected to help
so many people from our own local area. Everyone we met was from North
Port, Punta Gorda, Arcadia, Venice and our surrounding area.
We were blessed by the opportunity to help so many wonderful families, and had
the chance to sit and listen to their stories, hear their struggles and offer
hope and compassion.
One of the most heart melting moments occurred when a parent walked up and
asked, "You're from a church right, will you pray for my child?"
The June 12th outreach was such a success that we were able to help the house by
doing the daily chores and provide a home cooked lunch for all of the residents
and staff.
We were also able to donate over $1300 worth of Gas
gift cards through the donations of people and businesses in our
area. Thank you so much to businesses like Punta Gorda Construction
Management, First Financial Employee Leasing, Herston Engineering, Charlotte
Shuttles, and Ken's Bookkeeping for helping make this possible.
Everyone enjoyed the time we had to share with these families, and everyone is
excited by the chance to go back. We are currently arranging with the
Ronald McDonald house so we can go back the first
week of August.
We will be taking another group to volunteers the Ronald McDonald house in St.
Petersburg the first week of August.
The purpose of this trip will be to once again assist parents of hospitalized children
during the summer months by providing a helping hand, a hot meal, and much
needed assistance.
A HELPING HAND
Our volunteers will be going up to sweep, mop and vacuum floors, as well as
doing other chores for the current residents Normally, residents are
required to perform a task to help offset their stay. We will be doing
these tasks for the parents to give them the opportunity to spend more of their
day with their children, or catching up on much needed rest.
A HOT MEAL
While one group of people is working on cleaning and working in the house,
another group will be working to provide a nice lunch for these parents and
siblings. This meal will help families lower their expenses by providing a
good, healthy meal at no cost to them.
MUCH NEEDED ASSISTANCE
Lastly we are raising funds to purchase Gas Gift Cards for these parents. With
fuel costs continuing to rise, we want to help parents pay for a tank of gas so
they aren’t forced to choose between paying a bill, and leaving their child
alone at the hospital.
Donna Young, director of the Ronald McDonald House, has already
been receiving requests from the Hospital for gas cards for needy parents.
A our last trip we were able to give 25 gas cards to help. This trip we'd
like to try and do even more. We want to help these parents to be
able to be with their children at this difficult time in their young lives.
Children do not understand fuel costs, all they understand is that when I was
hurting in the hospital, Mommy or Daddy wasn’t there. By providing these gift
cards we will be helping unite families, lift spirits, and make opportunities
for children to have uplifted spirits and a better chance to heal.
SIGN UP!
If you would like to volunteer to go with us to help these parents by cleaning
or preparing lunch, email us or sign up in the church foyer before or after our
Sunday Morning service. If you are unable to go and assist in person,
consider donating to provide the food, supplies and gas cards for the families.
We ask that you please designate your donations to insure every
penny reaches these families. Please mark your giving as either "Gas Cards" or
"Ronald McDonald Outreach" so we know to use the funds for either the food and
provisions, or the Gas cards for the families. Donations can be made in the
offering during the
Sunday morning service, mailed to the church office, or dropped in person at
The Bean on 41 in Punta Gorda. Please remember to
make your checks out to "The Place," and not the Ronald McDonald House.
This way we can give one large donation instead of delivering many smaller ones.
For more information
on this outreach,
email by clicking here, or call Pastor Ken Swett at (941) 240-2421.
If you'd like more
information on the Ronald
McDonald House Charities in St Petersburg, click here,
or on the Ronald
McDonald house logo at the top of this page
