Our RMHC Legacy
Posted: May 14, 2013 Filed under: Legacy Society, RMHC Magic 1 Comment »
Delivery and pregnancy with our second son went very smoothly. It wasn’t until he was 5 days old that we found out that there was anything to worry about. He was born with a congenital heart defect and we were told that open heart surgery may be in our near future.
At 3 months old his surgery was scheduled to happen the next month, that is when we were introduced to the Ronald McDonald House. We were told since he would be in intensive care for the entirety of his stay that we would not be able to stay the night with him in the hospital, but at the same time we were also told they would put us down to stay at the Ronald McDonald House.
We really didn’t know what that meant but when the time came we went to the house to see what it was all about. Little did we know it would be such an important factor in our experience. Staying at the Ronald McDonald House gave us a sense of security when we had to leave our son’s side at night. We were always just a short walk (or run) away from him and if we needed to be there quickly we could.
This was the most scary and emotional time in our life, we were in a situation that we never thought would happen to us but thankfully the Ronald McDonald house was there for us and made our journey so much less stressful, we had 1 less thing to worry about which was exactly what we needed during that extremely stressful time.
Not only did we thoroughly appreciate the home away from home and close location to our son we also enjoyed talking to other families and organizations that were there cooking meals, it helped us forget for even a few minutes what we were going through. Now that Rocco is home and our live’s our back to normal, we look back with such appreciation for the House that kept us together.
Let me be clear, we never thought we would need the Ronald McDonald House but we are forever grateful it was there when we did.
-Michele Engle
Color Me Rad For The Win!
Posted: May 2, 2013 Filed under: Events Leave a comment »If you weren’t completely covered in color on April 7th, you missed out! Over 12,000 participants from all over the state gathered at Woodward Park for the most colorful 5k in the world!
Not only was the 2nd Annual Fresno Race fun, it raised needed funds for our families! With over 150 RMHC volunteer pitching in to make sure all the details were covered, and sponsors chiming in to support, the Color Me Rad Team made it happen!
Below, you’ll find some of our favorite moments from the day, but here’s the best news! Thanks to all the participants and volunteers, the race raised $25,000 for our mission! Can you say, “wow?!?!”
Sporting Clays Tournament Wrap Up
Posted: April 24, 2013 Filed under: Events Leave a comment »
Thank you to all that participated in our largest and most profitable tournament ever! With 294 shooters and a net income that went up by $20,000 from the year prior, we are beyond pleased!
If you participated on Saturday, April 20th and can’t wait to find out your scores, use the links below. Or CLICK to watch the video with some of the best moments from the shoot captured.
If you have any questions, please email Hannah@Rmhccv.org
Thank you for spending the day with us on Saturday and please save the date for 2014: April 19th!
Tempur-Pedic Gives More Than Comfort
Posted: April 1, 2013 Filed under: Families, RMHC Magic, Volunteers | Tags: Central California, Charity, Donation., RMHC, Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDOnald House Charities, Tempur-Pedic Leave a comment »
Our goal every day is to make our families as comfortable and taken care of as we can so they can focus on taking care of their kiddos. When an organization comes along and makes it easier for us to do that, our days are made.
Two weeks ago Tempur-Pedic donated 38 Sleep Systems for our 18 room house. It took 30 volunteers from Tempur Pedic, Sleep Train, and Fresno State to help us with the project.
Every night our house is full of 18 families with hospitalized children. We hope to give them rest, a meal, laundry help, showers, or just a listening ear. The average length of stay for our families is 13 nights, but as many of you know we have families stay with us for as little as one night and as many as 90. Having comfortable, ergodynamic beds for them to rest and gain needed energy for the next day is more than a gift.
Tempur-Pedic has donated more than 5,000 beds to Ronald McDonald House Charities in North America and has plans to continue to the donation through out the year.
Thank you to Tempur-Pedic for their hearts and for helping us do a little bit more for the families that need us!
Sporting Clays Information
Posted: March 27, 2013 Filed under: Events Leave a comment »We wanted to make sure that all our participants had the need to know information for our upcoming Sporting Clays Tournament.
Here are some of our quick tips:
- We provide all the ammo for you during the shoot so don’t worry about packing any.
- If you’re an NSCA member, make sure to give Hannah your number prior to the event. Call her: 559.4476793
- We’ve got ear plugs and ear wear, but if you have your own, make sure to bring it.
- If you want the chance to win the EXTRA AMAZING GOODIES, make sure you go to our kick off event at Chukchansi!
- If you’re shooting in the morning flight and don’t want to wake up at the crack of dawn to head up the mountain, stay and play at Chukchansi. Call them and book a room for $129.00 and use the code: CLAYS
- Come hungry, we’re providing a great lunch catered by Pardini’s
- If you heard about our gun raffle and want to buy a ticket, head to Spencer’s Firearms and purchase them. You can enter for a chance to win great guns!
- IMPORTANT: If you’re shooting in the morning flight, make sure you arrive and check in by 7:30. We’ll have a big crowd and want to get you parked, fed, and on the course by 8:30. If you’re in the afternoon flight, get there by 11:30a and we’ll get you fed, you can bid on auction items, and we’ll send you on your way.
Most importantly, if you have any questions, feedback, or need ANYTHING before the shoot email/call Hannah Hannah@RMHCCV.org
We can’t wait to see you April 20th!
Spring Bucket List
Posted: March 11, 2013 Filed under: RMHC Magic, Uncategorized, Volunteers Leave a comment »We’re taking a quick break from all our cooking talks and giving you a Spring Time Bucket List (thank us later).
Are there a few things you’ve been dying to do, but can’t seem to find the time for it? We think Spring is the perfect time to finally start crossing things off your list. Our PR Volunteer from Fresno State, Bianca put together a few great ideas for your Spring Bucket List!
Here’s what she came up with:
#1. Visit Yosemite Take a trip to Yosemite, finally! Tourists visit from all around the world to this park and it is right in our backyard! Grab the family, pack up some snacks, and head over to Yosemite and get ready for Mother Nature.
#2. Purchase a deal on Groupon Have you been eyeing some great deals on Groupon, but haven’t quite made a purchase? Spring is a great time to land a deal for you, your family, or others. Treat yourself to a day at the spa or plan a family adventure day, whatever the reason Groupon will surely have some awesome deals!
#3 Plan a Family Picnic Spring is the perfect time for a meal at the park or even in your backyard! Take mealtime outdoors and enjoy the surroundings!
#4.Visit the Japanese Gardens at Woodward Park: Going for a walk is a great way to relax and take in everything around you! It is even better to walk through Japanese Gardens and view the Koi Pond and Tea Garden House.
5. Cook something “Green”: March is filled with some great holidays and what better way to celebrate spring than with food? Cook up some green eggs & ham in honor of Dr. Seuss or for St.Patrick’s Day. No matter the occasion some “green” recipes will be a great addition to mealtime.
Pistachio Pudding Parfaits Recipe photo by Taste of Home
#6.Visit a local farm market: Fruit and produce is abundant in the Central Valley. Take some time this spring to visit one of the local markets and check out the fresh and locally grown food. The Vineyard Farmer’s Market is a great place to start making those purchases and, learn about local family farms. Check out some of their upcoming event as well!
#7: Create a Vegetable Garden with the Kids: A garden is a great way to get the children involved with nature and teach them a thing or two about vegetables. The kids will have a blast planting the seeds and digging through the soil!
#8. Complete a DIY Project: Pinterest is a great source to find a kid-friendly craft or tackle a project in the house. There are thousands of projects to choose from and spark your creativity! Get ready to get crafty!
#9.Volunteer: Spring is a great time to serve a local organization with your time and skills. Many organizations have Spring Events and other activities where they may need some help. Visit handsoncentralcalifornia.org for upcoming opportunities! Why not get the whole family involved?
#10. Tackle Spring Cleaning: Use this time to finally clean that hall closet or organize the home office. Incorporate the kids and give them a task or two to complete in the house. This is a great way to keep them busy and your house clutter free!
Pizza Time is Party Time
Posted: March 7, 2013 Filed under: Guest Chefs, Recipes Leave a comment »There’s nothing better than enjoying a slice of piping hot, cheesy, yummy, mouth-watering pizza! There’s also no way you can be in a bad mood while eating it. We think pizza time is party time and some of our favorite RMHC memories have been making pizzas in the East Wing Kitchens.
Since, we’re sharing our cooking tips with you this month, we thought a home-made pizza party with the kids should definitely be at the top of the list!
Don’t worry, we’re going to make your live’s easier and not suggest you make the dough by hand (unless you want to). Instead, we’ve done some research and found some healthy pre-made alternatives. Trader Joes offers a wheat or white premade option in their refrigerated section. It comes in a bag and makes around 3-4 mini pizzas each. We also found out that Pillsbury and Boboli and have good products as well. Whatever works for you and your budget!
Depending on what dough you use, the next few steps might be a little different. If you’re strapped for time, Boboli dough is a good choice. It’s premade and you only have to add sauce and toppings. If you want the whole experience, but don’t want to roll dough for twenty minutes, the Pillsbury option is the best. If you are hardcore and want the whole enchilada of the experience, buy the Trader Joe’s dough. You’ll need a rolling-pin and flour, but you’ll make a mess and your kids will love it!
After you decide on your dough, make sure you figure out what toppings you want. You’ll need a basic pizza sauce (any marinera sauce will do), cheese, and anything else you want.
During our research we found our top favorite pizza recipes, let us know if you try any!
Cooking, It’s a Process!
Posted: February 28, 2013 Filed under: Families, Guest Chefs Leave a comment »In preparation for our month long celebration of cooking as a family, we did a lot of thinking. We thought about menu preparation. We considered ingredients, grocery stores, cleanliness, aprons, utencils, and the list goes on! We thought about it all!
Since we’ve already told you about some of our favorite meals, we thought, we’d talk about the process of cooking next (and we all know there is a process). Although, there was definitely a time in all our lives when we thought that yummy meal on the dining room table just popped out of our mother’s thin air. Reality, woke us up and we soon found out that menu’s had to be prepared, shopping lists made, veggies scrubbed, and ovens preheated to even begin to make a meal.
Here are our tips to help get your kids involved in the entire process and maybe have a little fun while you’re doing it.
1. GROCERY SHOPPING – All of us (even if we aren’t mothers) can picture the scene of the screaming child in the shopping cart having a full blown, def – com 5 tantrom in the pretzel aisle at Safeway. We’re hoping with this tip we can avoid that altogether (we’re thinking good thoughts about it). If you’ve got time, we think you should head out to the nearest farmer’s market or fruit stand. We want you to buy the good stuff that’s probably also less expensive than purchasing from a large chain store. You’ll be supporting your local growers and also showing your kiddos the importance of picking healthy choices that are also grown in their community.
2. WASH AND CHOP THOSE BABIES – Bringing home produce that’s still got the dirt from the field it was grown in is a win win. It’s a double victory because your children (who will be helping wash) get to be told the story about how the vegetable their scrubbing was grown. They will then surely make the connection between that field and the yummy dinner they are going to eat later. If they don’t get it the first time, keep practicing. Now on to the subject of chopping. Moms, we know it’s a scary idea to even consider, but start them slow. We suggest giving them a plastic knife and showing them why and how you cut the items. The plastic knife might not entirely work, but it’ll give them the satisfaction of the attempt and allow them to keep all their digits.
3. THE MEAT TALK – Be honest. When you’re preparing the meat explain what animal it comes from and why it’s so nutritious for them. The longer it takes to have that talk the more horrible their little faces will be when you tell them that Daisy the Cow was just in their BBQ burger. The meat talk is a good one because it helps them put together the whole life cycle.
For more items on the list visit our friends at GASTROKID
Kid Friendly Kitchen
Posted: February 26, 2013 Filed under: Families, Recipes Leave a comment »It’s our experience that if there aren’t cupcakes and cookies in view during a cooking experience, the kiddos might not be that enthused about helping mom out in the kitchen. We decided March is going to be our month of celebrating healthy cooking for the whole family.
Our most favorite meals are those we make together. Whether we spend the time whipping up masterpieces as an RMHC staff here at the House or we’re home with our own families creating a tasty dish, cooking together always means fond memories.
We’re going to be sharing some recipes that worked for us through out the month. If we completely missed the boat and forgot some of your favorites, please leave them for us in the comments section. Here are our quick go to favorites:
Pepperoni Pizza Pockets
(No one says no to Pepperoni Pizza)
Turkey Chili
Herb Roasted Chicken Tenders
Spinach and Ricotta Shells
Fresno State ROTC Gives Big
Posted: February 4, 2013 Filed under: Families, Uncategorized, Volunteers 1 Comment »There’s not much better than the comfort that comes with enjoying a home cooked meal. The Fresno State ROTC set out to prepare and serve a meal for our families. They toured the house, made a list of needed items, and started calling for donations.
We were completely blown away when after a few weeks the 15-20 cadets raised over $800 for our house. They used the funds to buy groceries for the dinner they planned for our families. Not only did our 18 families (just under 100 people) enjoy a yummy spaghetti dinner, we also recieved a donation of $600 of left over funds.
Cadet Megan Maloy said the reason they decided to support our house was, “It’s part of our pledge as leaders and future officers to help those in need and provide a selfless service to the community. By realizing the struggle of these families, it will better prepare us for the profession we are entering into.”
We couldn’t agree more! We were too busy eating our spaghetti to write down their snazzy recipe so instead, we found some of our favorites for you!
