Powerful volunteer experience @ Ronald McDonald House + meet Anna Young!
This last Saturday May 5th we set up a volunteer experience with the Ronald McDonald House in San Diego (Miami chapter volunteered the week before and Orange Counties Chapter has one coming up). One of our volunteers Jennifer Kendricks had arranged the idea. From the moment I heard about it, I was filled with complete excitement. Think of this- Foster youth serving families who’s child is seriously ill! We knew this was the type of volunteer experience that can change lives!
A little background on the Ronald McDonald house- The Ronald McDonald House of San Diego is a “home away from home” for families with seriously ill children being treated at San Diego area hospitals.Since 1980, The Ronald McDonald House of San Diego has provided more than 140,000 nights of lodging to 14,000 families in need!
We had volunteered to bake cookies,cupcakes,and provide a small craft project for mother’s day. The week leading up to the event I received an email from Anna Young stating she wanted to volunteer for the event,so naturally I wanted to learn about who is “Anna”- So where do you go? FACEBOOK! I was stunned to learn that Anna is awaiting a phone call from UCLA for a DOUBLE LUNG TRANSPLANT- You see Anna has a lung disease that has never been seen before- Anna struggles just to breath. She constantly is in and out of the hospital. When I had the chance to talk with Anna, she shared her desire- She said, “Wesley,I want to serve! It’s always been about me and my medical issues.”
To say that I was humbled would be an understatement! So, here we were last Saturday @ R.M.H with a group of foster youth eating cookie dough,Anna delightfully coloring with kids from the home,and me embracing the moment. There are not many moments better than the ones I experienced last Saturday.When you desire to serve and do it on a regular basis, you never know what opportunities will come. I cant wait to see what is NEXT! Learn more about Anna Young- and consider making a donation! (We have) http://www.giveforward.com/annaslungtransplant
Wesley Stewart
program director
UrbanSurf4kids
