Volunteer Week Day 2- Ronald McDonald House
For our second day of our 3rd Annual Volunteer Week, our group visited the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region! We had seven of our employees participate, including Liana Bucciero, Jennifer Ruggiero, Jared Lozier, James Stevens, Vicky Siy, Jennifer Snyder, and John Graham. Our team had the opportunity to participate in the Love is Served program- where we cooked dinner and dessert for the 30 families staying in the home.
About Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region:
The Ronald McDonald House is a non-profit organization located in Albany, established in 1982. It provides housing for families with children battling illnesses or injuries. RMHC also collaborates with hospitals, schools, and businesses committed to supporting children facing serious medical conditions every day. Through the help of volunteers and generous donations, the organization offers families home-cooked meals and a comfortable place to stay—completely free of charge. The Ronald McDonald House lifts emotional and financial burdens from families and provides support programs that make a meaningful difference in their lives.
Our Volunteer Work During Volunteer Week:
This year, our team once again had the opportunity to participate in the Love is Served Program at the Ronald McDonald House. We spent the day preparing dinner and dessert for the families staying at the House, helping to provide a sense of comfort during what could be an incredibly stressful time. It was a rewarding experience for our team to come together, cook, and give back in a hands-on way. For dinner, our team prepared a Build-Your Own Taco Bar. The meal included chicken, beef, cheese, sour cream, lettuce, rice, beans, salsa, and chips to create a variety of tacos. For dessert, our team baked cupcakes and brownies. Our team also received a full tour of the House- from the amazing movie theater, toy room, and so much more, it was an awesome experience. We’re grateful for the chance to support such an important mission and look forward to continuing our partnership in the future.
Previous Volunteer Work:
Last year during our 2nd Annual Volunteer Week, our team participated in the Ronald McDonald House’s Love is Served Program, preparing a home-cooked meal for 20–30 families staying at the House. We made BBQ chicken, French fries, coleslaw, cornbread, and rolls, with cupcakes and brownies for dessert. It was a meaningful experience that brought our team together to help provide comfort and care for families during a difficult time. Additionally in 2022- our team organized a $15,000 donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region.
Impact on Our Team:
Volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region continues to be a meaningful experience for our team. “We hope the meal we prepared brought a small sense of relief or a moment of happiness to the families staying there. It’s a privilege to be able to give back in this way,” said Liana Bucciero (Assistant Director, PL), when reflecting on her experience with the Love is Served Program. One of our Brokers, John Graham, also stated “It was truly such a rewarding experience, and it feels really good giving back to those families and the children staying there. The House and everything they do there is incredible.”
How to Get Involved:
To learn more about the Ronald McDonald House and how to get involved, please visit their website at https://rmhcofalbany.org/. In addition to the Love is Served Program- there are several other volunteer opportunities available: help with indoor/outdoor maintenance, tour guides, administrative work, plan fundraising events, and much more.