[schmidt00]

I know that I have been cheering people on to donate to their Local Ronnie House. I managed to look up our local house (which is NOT a house that we have actually stayed at but it is important to many who come to our city for the children's hospital) and found their "most wanted" list. I was shocked to see that most of their wanted list was in my stockpile room so we packed up the van and off we went!

It was so heartwarming for me as a mom to have my boys be able to wander the house and know that this place was a place that "took care" of their little sister for the past two years. They really get it that when mom and dad "go away" to the hospital with Sissy... THIS is where they go.

We gave about $500 worth of stuff. My total OOP was less than $20. I wish I had a better pic of the "stuff" but you can see that the whole back of
my van was full.

There were 10 of everything:
Lysol Liquid Cleaner
Lysol Wipes
Lysol Spray
Lysol Kitchen Cleaner
Glade Sense and Spray
Pop Tarts
Cereals
Ranch
Italian
other dressings
BBQ
A-1
20 or so packs of Hot Dogs (for their upcoming cookout)
Mayo
Miracle Whip
Mac N Cheese
Glucerna Cereals

We also donated almost an entire Rubbermaid tub of pop tabs thanks to the help of many of my brides and grooms (I am a wedding photog). They have you pull out the colored tabs because there evidently is a house in FL that uses them to make earrings that are sold to benefit the RMH charity. I am trying to find out how to get a pair!

[earrdr]

Wished I lived closer. I would love to donate to RMH. Did you call them to get a list? I may make a special trip to Louisville. Thanks for sharing your stockpile, time and pics.

RMH is truly a wonderful place for families.

[erainwater1976]

YOU ROCK!!! THAT IS SOOOO AWESOME.. My sister and I are getting boxes ready for when she goes to Milwaukee to the Ronald McDonald House...

[schmidt00]

Originally Posted by earrdr

Wished I lived closer. I would love to donate to RMH. Did you call them to get a list? I may make a special trip to Louisville. Thanks for sharing your stockpile, time and pics.

RMH is truly a wonderful place for families.

The Lexington house has their Wishlist on the website as a printable PDF.

According to the RMH of Louisville which serves Frazier Rehab, Norton Suburban and Kosair Children's... here is the link to their wishlist:

http://www.rmhlouisville.org/index_f...20Wishlist.pdf

[MichiganMan]

Very cool of you Schmidtie!!

[MeganK]

That's soo sweet of you. Your children are simply adorable!

What do they do with all of the pop can tabs? Besides the colored ones, which you already explained.

[schmidt00]

Originally Posted by MeganK

That's soo sweet of you. Your children are simply adorable!

What do they do with all of the pop can tabs? Besides the colored ones, which you already explained.

They sell them to scrap metal. The pop tab is actually the heaviest part of the can (in metal). I was SHOCKED when they told me the percentage of the RMH income that comes from the pop tabs. I don't want to misquote the number but it adds up to several hundred thousand dollars a year!

[Silly_lady1980]

I think that is amazing work you are doing maybe when thing get better I will like to do this is there a way to see if it is one close to me?

[schmidt00]

Originally Posted by Silly_lady1980

I think that is amazing work you are doing maybe when thing get better I will like to do this is there a way to see if it is one close to me?

google :

Ronald McDonald House (add your city or state on the end) and it will bring up the house in your area.

or go here to search:
Chapter Search

[lisa73]

That is awesome!! We lived in a RMH for a total of 7 months (split up a few weeks here and a few there) over a 3 year period for my DD. We stayed in Chicago but live in NJ. That is a great idea about what to do with your stockpile.
my girls and I make bunch at our local house every mothers day as a way to give back. It does feel great to help others who are in a situation that you were in before KWIM?

[schmidt00]

Originally Posted by lisa73

That is awesome!! We lived in a RMH for a total of 7 months (split up a few weeks here and a few there) over a 3 year period for my DD. We stayed in Chicago but live in NJ. That is a great idea about what to do with your stockpile.
my girls and I make bunch at our local house every mothers day as a way to give back. It does feel great to help others who are in a situation that you were in before KWIM?

I know EXACTLY what you mean. Its kind of like paying homage to your own journey while helping others...

[bargainshopper]

I just read your blog and wow your family has been through a lot that was very thoughtful for you to contribute so much!

Your kids are adorable!

[carmended]

wow thats great!!! i know that when my cousin had a stroke a while back my aunt and uncle were able to stay in a rmh. they are great!!

[Pepsilady405]

Originally Posted by earrdr

Wished I lived closer. I would love to donate to RMH. Did you call them to get a list? I may make a special trip to Louisville. Thanks for sharing your stockpile, time and pics.

RMH is truly a wonderful place for families.

What part of KY are you from? I'm from near Paducah.. little town called LaCenter.

[Pepsilady405]

Amber you are one amazing chickadee!!!!!

[schmidt00]

Originally Posted by Pepsilady405

What part of KY are you from? I'm from near Paducah.. little town called LaCenter.

I am in Central KY- Lexington... smack dab in the middle... 1 hour from Louisville, 1 hour from Cincy....

[MommySusan1]

Please call your local RMH before you start collecting pop tabs. Not all houses take/use them.

Thanks for your donation. My sister works at one and she told me they had a waiting list of SIXTEEN families this weekend.

[schmidt00]

Originally Posted by MommySusan1

Please call your local RMH before you start collecting pop tabs. Not all houses take/use them.

Thanks for your donation. My sister works at one and she told me they had a waiting list of SIXTEEN families this weekend.

I didn't know that. I have never been to one that didn't take them .. . The waiting list is standard at places like Cincinnati. They only have one RMH for all of Cincy Childrens (the #3 children's hospital in the nation). Even when our DD had her open heart surgery we had to wait 3 days to get a room there.