Last fall, one of my fantastic co-workers signed us up to cook dinner once a month for the Ronald McDonald House. Since we are there neighbor, and a relaxing resource for them when they have the time to visit, she thought it would be nice to make a connection. Since then, the second Tuesday of each month, a bunch of us get together to provide a healthy, well-rounded, home-cooked meal for the families staying next door.
Dinner is served promptly at 6:00 pm. We gather in their newly rennovated kitchen - we all suffer kitchen envy - at 4:30 pm, and start cooking. Sometimes we make everything there, like on pizza night. Other nights, we come with food prepped the night before that just needs to be baked. Either way, delicious smells waft through the house, creating a cozy sense of home - something many of these families miss.
We have met many families going through rough times, but I have yet to hear despair. I'm sure some of the families leave with one less member than they came to Ann Arbor with, but I have not witnessed this. I have only witnessed the hope, the patience, and the love of the families as they wait for surgery and treatments to come to an end.
This summer, before we started cooking dinner for the families, I met a little boy (18 - 24 months old) and his dad. They came through the Peony Garden for a few days on end. We chatted and it turns out this little boy needed heart surgery. One day they didn't show up in the garden. We waited and waited, hoping the little boy would be OK. A few days later, the dad dropped by to let us know the surgery was a success and they would be going home the next day. Yay!
In November, I heard of a family who had just had twins. I hadn't been able to help cook this night, but the story was relayed to me. One of the babies was perfectly healthy. The other was in the hospital, waiting for a new heart. In December, I was able to attend our dinner night. I met the family with the twins. The healthy baby came to dinner with them, sleeping in Grandma's arms. The other was still in the hospital, but had received a new heart. They would be able to go home for Christmas as a complete family.
This week, I met a 4-yr. old who had cancer. It was one of his last nights in Ann Arbor. The U of M hospitals have done pretty much all they could for him, and he would be transferred to the Mayo Clinic in a couple of days. His mom did not despair. She sounded hopeful as she made him a plate and tended to his needs.
Cooking dinner for the folks at Ronald McDonald House is something I hope we can continue as a staff. Not only does it provide excellent staff cooperation and bonding, but it helps our neighbors. In this dark time in their lives, it takes off the pressure and responsibility of having to feed their family. It provides them with healthful, home-cooked food that they can enjoy.
I highly encourage all of you to make time to help those in need. Whether it's the poor, the hungry, or the highly stressed. It allows you to take a step back from your life and put things into perspective. It makes you slow down and appreciate the little things. You don't have to do a lot. You can just bake cookies. But whatever you do, it will amaze you how profound of an impact you can make in someone else's life.
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