Brothers from Sheboygan Freemasons Lodge delivered 185 toys to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Wisconsin on May 2.
Charitable giving is important to all of us. For one of our Brothers, Shannon Moody, helping the Ronald McDonald House holds much deeper meaning.
Here’s Shannon’s story:
“I wanted to tell you about the Ronald McDonald Houses. They have been around for a long time, and I personally experienced their caring and devotion to helping. In 1985 my oldest daughter was born; little did we know she was born with Cerebral palsy but after some time we had the diagnosis and our long journey began. Angela had a severe case of cerebral palsy. She was totally reliant on us for everything. Nine years of hospital stays and many surgeries, the Ronald McDonald organization was there throughout it all and providing help for my family that was still growing. We had two more children. Angela’s mounting bills kept us strapped even with insurance. Lots of equipment to buy, including a van. There wasn’t much money left for hotels so we could stay close to the hospital. Ronald McDonald House came thru every time . . .more than I ever dreamed of. We had nine years with Angela before an infection set in and before we knew it, she was gone. Even after her passing the organization helped in many ways. I don’t think I know how deep their blessings reach. Brothers, last December she would have been 40. I feel a tremendous amount of emotion every time I visit and donate to the houses. I also donate my time in a chaplain capacity when needed.”
For those interested, here are a few areas of need for the Ronald McDonald House if you would like to help.
• $120 or just $10 a month provides a night of comfort and support to a family in need.
• Ronald McDonald House has a link on Amazon filled with everyday things a family might need. Maybe they forgot a toothbrush or ran out of deodorant.
• The House needs everyday items as well. With 9 kitchens, we can never have enough paper towels and Clorox wipes.
• We have 430 dedicated volunteers giving 39,000 hours to care for our families. Whether it is a group serving a dinner for 3 hours or someone who can drive a van for a couple of hours each month, it makes a world of difference to our families. Our How to Help section of the website has all the details. www.rmhc-easternwi.org
