I have finally decided on my project! I am going to collect donations for The Ronald McDonald House in Columbia, MO.  When Mrs. Todd said I could use twenty percent of the class for a project I had no idea what to do. I thought of learning how to crochet, making a piece of art, or sewing something but all of this sounded kind of like a chore and would require many materials that could be expensive. Then I thought I should use this time to help someone else. I love helping people and it makes me feel good. I researched online about a bunch of charities and I found the website of my favorite charity the Ronald McDonald house. The Ronald McDonald House is a place for parents and children to stay while a sick child or sibling is receiving treatment at the hospital. The Ronald McDonald House provides for all of the family’s needs including food, laundry, and personal care. It is a Godsend for families because they can concentrate on supporting their child and not worry about their own basic needs.  Families are able to better focus on taking care of their child and not worry as much about themselves. The house is near the hospital and has hotel like rooms for families, a kitchen, a laundry room, a playroom for kids, a library and all the amenities to take care of a family. I have helped the Ronald McDonald House before, in 2016 I made blankets for the children there as part of an FCCLA project and then again in 2017 I helped with an FCCLA project collecting pop tabs to take to the Ronald McDonald house. So, I thought why not help in 2018? I have been missing FCCLA lately and maybe this project would help me miss it just a little less. So, I took a box and lists of the donations the Ronald McDonald House needs with me to church on Sunday and my project began. After church I took another box and more lists to the neighboring church and they were more than happy to help.  Then I contacted my uncle who has a Shelter Insurance office in Kahoka and he said I could leave a box there. Next, I contacted my friend Taylar who works at the license office in Memphis and she said I could put a box there.  Finally, I put a box at my office, the Wyaconda City Hall. I made a group on Facebook with all of the details and my project was off to a great start.  I also called in to the local radio station kmem to spread the project details.
My tentative schedule looks like this:

Week 1

Set up blog

Week 2

Create Facebook group, make lists of the items needed for donations, take boxes to drop off locations, make radio announcement on KMEM

Week 3

Make and disburse informative flyers

Week 4

Go to businesses and ask for donations

Week 5

Pick up donations

Week 6

Take donations to the Ronald McDonald House in Columbia and make presentation.

I hope to collect a lot of donations but I need your help. If you would like to donate please drop off your items at any of the designated drop locations or give them to me before or after class. The following items are donations recommended by The Ronald McDonald House:

Ongoing Wish List for

The Ronald McDonald House

House Pantry

• VISA/grocery store/Wal-mart Gift Cards
• Breakfast cereal
• Breakfast bars & Pop-Tarts
• Breakfast pastries and bakery items
• Snack items, individually wrapped (muffins, bagels, honeybuns, etc.)
• Coffee creamer
• Peanut butter
• Kids’ juice boxes
• quick lunches
• Hamburger helper
• Pudding mixes/cups
• Artificial sweetener
• Gift cards for local restaurants

Household and Cleaning

• High-efficiency liquid laundry detergent
• Liquid dishwasher detergent
• Disinfectant wipes
• Dryer sheets
• Glass cleaner
• Sponges
• Ziploc bags (all sizes)
• Trash bags (13+ gallons)
• Disposable hot and cold drink cups
• Tupperware
• Aluminum foil & saran wrap
• Kitchen dish towels
• Standing/oscillating fans
• Umbrellas
• Hair dryers

Personal Care

• Travel sized toothpaste
• Deodorant (men’s and women’s)
• Hand sanitizer
• Baby wipes & diapers
• Sanitary pads
• Travel sized shampoo, conditioner, and body wash

Monetary donations are also accepted and appreciated.

For the protection of  families we serve, we request that all donated items are new and unused. Thank you for your cooperation and support!