Harvesting Good Will

October 28th, 2022

As leaves turn their vibrant colors, we know the season of thanksgiving is upon us. At RMHC-Madison, there are abundant opportunities to witness generosity. It is a reminder that goodness exists in the world, as people continually step up to help others they may never know.

Almost daily we hear “How can we help?” which is music to our ears. Whether as an individual, business, organization, or service project, giving back or paying it forward is not only fulfilling but essential!

The Ronald McDonald House is bursting at the seams, at capacity most nights with overflow at partner hotels as needed. Inflation continues to drive up the cost of homecooked meals, lunches to take to the hospital, heat to keep rooms warm and comfortable and electricity to keep the laundry and dishwashers humming. Our Wish Lists run long to provide amenities of home to our families as well as the little extras like gas cards.

Our goal is to help families focus on the medical care of their child and leave the rest to us.

This giving season, there are many opportunities to give back and we are thankful for the support. Weekly we see families and groups volunteer to cook meals, pack lunches, rake leaves, and make the House sparkle, even on the weekends. Many thanks to all the organizations listed below for volunteering with us in the past few weeks.

Our network of support resides outside of our walls as well. Visit Hilldale on Sunday, November 13th – World Kindness Day – where participating businesses including Madewell, Kendra Scott, Wildewood, and Great Dane Brew Pub are teaming up for a Shop & Sip for the Cause event to benefit RMHC-Madison. This December, area businesses like KEVA Sports Center and Lodgic Everyday Community will also contribute to our mission by fulfilling Wish List Drives.  If your organization is interested in hosting a Wish List Drive or Employee Giving Campaign, reach out to Kristen Drake at your earliest convenience.

In 2023, we will launch several initiatives that allow businesses and groups to volunteer and give back in new ways. Cooking Up Love, Augie’s Lunches with Love, and Pull-Tab Parties will be part of a menu of options for businesses to support our families. These opportunities also strengthen teams and client relationships. If these walls could talk, so many stories would be shared about how RMHC programs have provided a respite for colleagues, friends, or family members in one of the 381 chapters worldwide.

To learn how you can get involved, contact Deborah Still (individual giving and corporate partnerships), Kristen Drake (employee giving/wish lists), Sonia Spencer (volunteering), or Michael Rosenblum (making a meal).

Together, we can keep families close and give them peace of mind.  Now that’s something to be truly grateful for this season.

Thank you to these recent corporate partners for volunteering!

  • Hormel
  • Gordon Food Services
  • Exact Sciences
  • UBS
  • Stark Company Realtors
  • Eppstein Uhen Architects
  • Yahara Software
  • ACS (Affiliated Construction Services)
  • American Family Insurance
  • Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association/School of Education Team
  • GE Healthcare
  • UW Health Patient Access Team
  • UW Health System Project Management Team
  • UW Health Kids Pediatrics Complex Care
  • UW Health Marketing Team
  • Friends of UW Health
  • Bear Family McDonald’s
  • Bucciferro Family McDonald’s

Listed above is a partial list of all the wonderful organizations that support RMHC-Madison throughout the year.