Volunteering at Ronald McDonald House!!!

Posted here more for my records, than anything else!

Thursday December 7th 4:30PM-7:30PM
Location: Ronald McDonald House 350 Erkenbrecher Ave (next to Children's Hospital)
Organized by: Hannah Riesenberg and Sarah Leland
Why: Because it is FUN!
Ages: 13 and up (no toddlers or younger siblings please!)

Through the youth group at our old church we learned about this wonderful volunteer opportunity at Ronald McDonald House. What our group would do is prepare dinner for the house (approximately 50 to 60 guests). This month we will be preparing comfort foods! Each participant will bring items for the meal (see menu below!). We cook the food (either on site or brought already made from home) for families staying at Ronald McDonald house. It is unbelievable how much fun it is cooking in the big kitchen (5 ovens, 5 microwaves, 5 sinks, 5 dishwashers) and how rewarding it is to serve the guests of Ronald McDonald House. Typically, if there is enough food left over, the volunteers eat dinner once the houseguests are finished. After dinner is over, we clean up, put the leftovers away, load the diswashers and head home!

If you are interested in joining us, please email Laura at theriesenbergs@cinci.rr.com to express your interest. Deanne and Laura will accompany the kids (we can talk about carpooling, etc when we know how many kids are coming). Moms (or dads) are welcome to join us, we just ask that no toddlers or younger siblings come as the house often has kids over from the hospital and the last thing we want is to make anyone sick with a flurry of germs!

If you would like to help out, but can't come down and prepare dinner, we will gladly accept your donations of food! Email Laura at theriesenbergs@cinci.rr.com to let her know you want to send in food and we will work out arrangements to get it from you. Food can be dropped of to me Monday, Dec. 4 at Monday School or on Wednesday, Dec. 6 at the Beach Waterpark.

For those of you unfamiliar with Ronald McDonald House check out their website at www.rmhcincinnati.org

RSVP: Laura, Hannah and Brett , Sarah, Norma, Debbie, Eva and Daniel , Misty and Rachel, Josh

This month we will be preparing comfort foods, like chicken noodle soup, vegetable soup, chili, baked potatoes, etc. We are hoping to secure a donation of bread from Panera. Donations of christmas cookies/candies would also be appreciated!

Menu:

Chili: Riesenberg
4 lb bag of frozen boneless chicken breasts or thighs:
4-16 oz bags of extra wide egg noodles:
2 bunches of celery:
2 to 3 lb of regular carrots (not baby carrots):
1 jar chicken bouillon cubes (makes 25 cups):
4 bags of frozen mixed vegetables:
2 bags of frozen chopped onions:
2 bags of frozen hashbrown potatoes (cubed not shredded):
3 large cans of tomato juice:
4 cans diced tomatoes:
2 boxes of quick barley:
2- 10lb bags of baking potatoes (Costco):
4-16 oz containers of sour cream:
6-8 oz bags of shredded cheddar cheese:
large container of margarine:
disposable plastic (or chinet) bowls (50 +):
brownies: 2 boxes (we will bake them at RMH)
Rice Krispie Treats: 2-9x13 pans
cookies: 6 dozen "break and bake" cookies (you can either bake these at home or bring them with you and bake them at RMH)

Special thanks to everyone who donated items or came to help! It was a great evening and christmas music played by our very own Daniel, filled the air, setting a wonderful holiday mood!