Meals From The Heart

After having Brianna I discovered that there is no greater pain than having a sick baby or child in which  you can't provide any relief or fix the problem.  One could only imagine the anguish in which the parents of children who have complex medical issues must endure.  Yesterday, a few members of Sassy Mahogany Wives took a few hours out of our day to prepare a home cooked meal for the residents at our local Ronald McDonald House .

The objective of the Ronald McDonald House is to provide a home-away-from-home for families with children who have life threatening illnesses and are receiving specialized treatment at local hospitals.  The house offers a full kitchen, private rooms, laundry and computer facilities, a chapel, a play room for siblings, several entertainment areas and most importantly, it is only a few short blocks from the hospital.

Our role was to plan a menu, purchase the groceries and prepare a meal in their wonderful kitchen for the residents and their families.  The weather in Chicago was a major deciding factor in planning our menu, due to the Winter season we wanted something that was hearty and soulful.

SMW Menu
Tossed Salad
Chicken Stew
Cornbread
Chocolate Cake (Home made)
Pound Cake (Home made)
Red Velvet Cake

After spending their entire day at the hospital cooking a good meal for them-selves may be the last thing on their minds. Giving these families the chance to sit down to a home cooked meal is just another way to make Ronald McDonald House truly a “home-away-from-home” for families who need it the most.

We had a wonderful time at this volunteer event.  This environment gave us the chance to bond while providing service to our community.  The theme for Sassy Mahogany Wives in 2013 is "Being A Better Me" as such, paying it forward is a staple in our group this year.  The Ronald McDonald House is nation wide; therefore, if you have some time or just like giving back I would highly recommend viewing their site to see how you can help.  Volunteers are the backbone of the RMH and critical to their success.   They only receive a very small percentage of funding from their namesake.  If you do not like to cook please don't fret there are several ways that you could assist or volunteer which includes: donating household items (laundry detergent, toilet paper, can goods, frozen foods, gift cards and toys) to keep the house running and functioning.  The work they do is amazing and they count on the help of volunteers to help keep cost down.