Delivering Joy this Season

December 15th, 2022 | Our Impact

The holidays came early for more than 100 Ronald McDonald Care Mobile kids in Rockford this year, thanks to a new community partnership at RMHC-Madison. Mike Zheng (Fenrici Brands), and his wife Dr. Inga Hofmann Zheng (UW Health Pediatric Hematologist and Oncologist) donated more than 100 backpacks, lunch boxes, cozy pillowcases, sleep masks, fidget toys and other goodies to launch the project.

We knew this was an ideal opportunity to spread a little cheer, so we partnered with additional friends to fill the care packages with even more love.

Many thanks to Madison Reading Project for

donating a book for each backpack. Several area groups donated toys to add to each bag.  Students from Edgewood High School created inspiring holiday cards. The SuiteDynamics team of volunteers made light work assembling all of the goodies. Finally, UW Women’s Volleyball players MJ Hammill, Gabby McCaa, Izzy Ashburn and Danielle Hart stopped by during their NCAA tournament to sign more cards and wrap the gifts with bows before helping us load the care packages in our van as we headed to Rockford.

Ronald McDonald Care Mobile staff, Shannon Belmonte and Toni Ellingson, coordinated with area schools they serve so our team could deliver presents to students with the greatest need. Many elves brought joy to this project, and it was truly a heartfelt and festive way to kick off the holiday season.

“A present like this with a book, a toy, and a backp

ack are so valuable to these children. The Rockford Public Schools staff were very excited and could barely wait to distribute them. We are grateful that we could be a part of helping to make their holidays brighter.” Toni Ellingson and Shannon Belmonte