This week I am going to make flyers for my Ronald McDonald House project. I am going to disburse them all over Kahoka, Memphis, and Wyaconda. I have made my proposal and will attach it below so you all can read more about the amazing things the Ronald McDonald House does. I have also been researching more about other Ronald McDonald Houses and how the one in Columbia differs from those in other locations. There are 322 Ronald McDonald House locations  in 57 countries and regions. I had no idea that there were Ronald McDonald Houses in other countries. Some of the interesting countries I found out there were Ronald McDonald Houses in include Fiji, Ecuador, Honduras, Latvia, Malaysia, and Slovakia. It amazes me that so many countries are able to also have this amazing organization. I also learned that some families are required to pay $25 for their stay based on income but the house in Columbia does not require that. In 2016 the Ronald McDonald House helped more than 5.5 million families around the world. That is amazing! This makes it even more important to me knowing that the houses are more locally funded due to the number of houses the funds have to be divided by. I have yet to check up on my drop off locations in Memphis and Kahoka but I hope they are filling up. The drop off location at my office has a few things in it and I believe it will receive less donations than the other two because of the location being less populated. This week I went through my bathroom cabinet and found our collection of unused hotel shampoos, conditioners, and body washes to donate. This is a great idea for everyone to do! Every time you go to a hotel just bring your own shampoos and conditioners and pack home the little bottles. These bottles are a great donation to the house as the families use them. I never use the little bottles anyway because I prefer my own soap from home. I also found some free sample packets of shampoos and conditioners that came in magazines. I have recently started couponing! This is a great way to make the most of your donation! The newspaper has a lot of coupons that are items requested on the list of donations.  Websites also have many coupons and I have even stumbled upon some free sample requests. I hope my free samples come in before I take my donation to the Ronald McDonald House. I have also been looking on Amazon and you can get a lot of great deals on there. Especially when you buy in bulk which would be great for the house. Buying things like Clorox wipes, oatmeal, and snacks in bulk is nice because those things get used quickly. I am going to Shelter Insurance tomorrow and I am actually kind of excited to check on my box. I hope to get a lot of donations and am afraid that there will be nothing in the box. Don't forget you can also bring me donations before and after class. Thanks!

Formal Proposal Assignment

By: Danielle Townsend

            The Ronald McDonald House is a hotel like building that allows families who have children receiving treatment at hospitals in Columbia to stay there for free. The Ronald McDonald House provides each family with a room and a bathroom. The house is stocked with all the necessities a family needs including food and toiletries. There are also rooms including a TV watching room, library, and living areas that many families can relax in and talk with other families about their experiences. The Ronald McDonald House is fully equipped to care for families who need somewhere to stay while their children are receiving treatment.

Problem

The problem the Ronald McDonald House is having is that there are too many families in need of a place to stay while their child is receiving care at the hospital and not enough supplies to take care of these families. The Ronald McDonald House has hosted over 1,600 kids and their families who have stayed about 21,000 nights since 2013. That 63,000 meals per person! Food is not the only necessity the Ronald McDonald House provides. Guests also need toiletries including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toilet paper, towels, deodorant, toothpaste, sanitary pads, diapers, and wipes. The house also requires materials to clean up after all of the guests such as laundry detergent, sponges, cleaner, Clorox wipes, and glass cleaner. A ton of supplies are required to care for multiple families in one big house. The Ronald McDonald House is a non-for-profit organization. It receives no state or federal grants. They do not charge families for staying at the house, meals, or amenities. Therefore, they must rely on generous donations for all of their necessities. Ronald McDonald House workers are busy keeping up with the house and do not have time to collect donations. Therefore, it is necessary for people to generously give to the Ronald McDonald House and keep this great organization going.

Proposed Solution

I propose taking up a collection of items the Ronald McDonald House needs and delivering them to the Ronald McDonald House in Columbia. This will help stock up the house’s pantry and provide for many family’s visit’s. I have placed donation boxes at both of my local churches, city hall in Wyaconda, Shelter Insurance in Kahoka, and the Memphis License Office in Memphis. In order to inform people of the collection I have made calls in to the radio station KMEM, and I plan on making flyers to disperse.  I hope to collect at least fifty items.

Justification

My proposal will help many families have a clean place to stay when their children are sick and receiving treatment from hospitals in Columbia, MO. These families will then be better equipped both physically and mentally to care for their sick child. This is very important because children rely on their families for support when they are sick and families are not able to give adequate support when they are not being supported themselves. Children will also be better prepared for doctor’s appointments. Some families drive hours to appointments in Columbia and may have to get up early to drive to the hospital. The Ronald McDonald House allows these families to stay the night prior to the appointment so they do not have to get up early and travel on the day of the appointment. This helps families be better prepared for their appointment and they will not be as tired. Families are also more alert and will better retain and understand the important information a doctor tells them.

Families are able to share their experiences with other families living at the Ronald McDonald House. There are communal rooms such as the library, TV watching room, and other living areas where families are able to hang out with other families. Children and parents meet new friends at the house and are able to relate to them. This allows families to feel like they are not alone in their situation and realize that other families are having the same difficult issues. The emotional support families receive is crucial to the overall attitudes the family members have and therefore the emotional support the sick child is receiving.

The Ronald McDonald House is a lifesaver for all families who stay there but especially the ones who come to stay on unexpected occasions. When a child becomes sick and requires an unexpected emergency surgery or doctor’s visit the Ronald McDonald House is able to quickly arrange for a stay. Families are able to rush to the hospital and not worry about bringing anything with them. They can leave all of their necessities at home because the Ronald McDonald House will provide for them.

The Ronald McDonald House is also very important to all families who stay with them because families save money that can go towards medical bills. Staying at a hotel can be expensive for a family so staying for free at the Ronald McDonald house saves many families money.  Eating out every meal can also be expensive so having the Ronald McDonald House provide all of the family’s meals is a big help to families. This is especially important to families with children who receive long term treatment. Some families stay at the Ronald McDonald House for many months and could not otherwise afford to seek medical care for their child. With medical bills piling up families can be less stressed about their food and shelter expenses and focus on the well being of their child.

It is important to donate to the Ronald McDonald House because you never know when your family or a family you know may be in the same situation as the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House. Giving back also helps you feel good about yourself and gives many people a sense of importance.

Based on all of these reasons, I believe that the Ronald McDonald House is a great organization that everyone who can should try and help out. Collecting donations helps fill a drop in the bucket of the amazing things the Ronald McDonald House does. Although donating does cost money it is well worth it when you think of all of the good you are doing through this great organization and every donation, no matter how big or small, helps.

Bibliography

“Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mid-Missouri.” Ronald McDonald House Charities of MidMissouri Home Page Comments, rmhcmidmo.org/.