Upland Kiwanis Club enjoying helping those at Ronald McDonald House

Inland Valley, California, Daily Bulletin
http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_12115092

Rancho Cucamonga Kiwanians work to help throughout the community, but they have a special place in their heart for children.

So in addition to their monthly donation to GAP, a local food bank, and other projects, the club wanted to find a way to help children in need.

It made an instant connection with the Ronald McDonald House at Loma Linda Hospital Medical Center. Here club members regularly prepare home-cooked meals to families whose children are seriously sick and hospitalized. Shirley Patrick, in particular, found the work more than satisfying.

"We were looking for something local where we could help kids and we found this," Patrick said. "This is so easy, but accomplishes so much. I find it very rewarding."

And now that long-time community volunteer Patrick has transferred to the Upland Foothill Kiwanis, along with her trademark enthusiasm, she's also helping to bring the tradition to a new set of individuals. The Upland Foothill Kiwanis prepared a hot and delicious sloppy joes/cole slaw/vegetables and dip/dessert dinner in February and it is preparing another meal on April 22.

The real beneficiaries are the families who are taxed by spending all day at their children's hospital beds, worrying about what their futures may hold.

"You know the last thing these poor families want to do is think about cooking. I remember when the Rancho club prepared a meal at the house. A family from Canada had just flown in and taken a very sick little girl to the hospital. They were exhausted and starving. They ate whatever we prepared and were grateful," Patrick said.

Another time the Patricks, Shirley and husband George, led a Rancho contingent who served - what else with a last name like theirs—corned beef and cabbage.

Now the very active Upland Foothill Kiwanis has added this service to its already full arsenal of all it does in the community.

"We heard a presentation from the Ronald McDonald House and with Shirley now in the club, we wanted to do this," said Bonnie Lambert, Upland Foothill Kiwanis member who baked a cake for the last outing.

"This is such a nice outreach program. It doesn't take much. Really, the Ronald McDonald people want this to be a small group activity. When we went in February the meal was simple and everyone, the families and volunteers, were so appreciative. I'm excited about going back."

Maybe it's the ready and free food that helps. Maybe it's because the simple dinners are prepared and served by caring people who want to bring a sense of normalcy to lives that are anything but normal. Or maybe a home-cooked meal helps make the Ronald McDonald House more like a home.

"When my husband Steve and I retired we found we wanted more than just time on our hands. We both were used to having young people around us. Steve taught at Chaffey High School and I taught at Chaffey College," Lambert said.

"We joined the Upland Foothill Kiwanis because it is a very busy organization, but it's a fun group, too. When we heard about this project, we knew we wanted to help. I really don't cook, believe me, so I baked a cake. I can do that. We don't volunteer for ourselves, but I have to admit doing this makes me feel really good."

In February, six Upland volunteers traveled to Loma Linda with Crock Pots full of sloppy joes. Later this month, five plan on going with some well-known Kiwanis chili in tow.

"These families have lives full of stress. We happy to be able to provide an easy meal so that's one less thing they have to worry about," she said.

Girl Scout troops, service organizations and even families have called the Ronald McDonald House and volunteered. All participants must register, sign a medical waiver and be in good health. Even a cold could prove deadly to the families involved. Participants choose how and when they want to help.