By Dana Sternthal
Staff Writer
Each year, Ronald McDonald House charities provide food and homes for over 4.5 million families that have children that are undergoing medical treatment in hospitals.
Freshman Allison Comroe is the president of the Costa Ronald McDonald House Club. She and 25 other active members work together to bring happiness to the kids and families in hospitals.
“I started the club in January,” Comroe said. “I had volunteered at the Long Beach Ronald McDonald House facility, and I decided to create a club at Costa to organize students to help the families of the sick children.”
Along with the drives the club holds to raise money for its cause, club members regularly go to the Ronald McDonald House in Long Beach to volunteer.
“It’s nice to see the kids look up to us when we help them,” freshman Ryan Cosner said. “It is really fulfilling.”
While visiting the house, Costa club members cook meals for the families staying there. They also entertain the children.
“We help the families by playing with the kids, making them dinner and making useful crafts to help ease their transition to the house,” fundraising chair freshman Sarah Kennedy said.
“Birthday in a bag” is a special activity that the club is involved in. Celebratory items such as hats, and noisemakers are included and given to children in the hospital on their birthday.
“I enjoy making cards for the kids and making birthday in a bags because I feel like I am impacting their lives” freshman Reilly Edmonds said.
On club day, the Ronald McDonald House Club sells McFlurrys. The local McDonald’s restaurant donates all of the proceeds toward helping patients and their families.
“We’re a new club, so we haven’t had as many fundraisers as other clubs,” Kennedy said. “We are mostly focused on helping the kids and families.”
Ronald McDonald House Club meets every other Thursday in room 3.
“It is a rewarding experience for everyone,” Comroe said. “We are really trying to make an impact on the community.
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