HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2017-05-10, Page 1616 Signal Star • Wednesday, May 10, 2017
The Ronald McDonald House Foundation
Members of
7 the community
showed support
on McHappy Day
Kathleen Smith
Goderich Signal Star
According to the Ronald McDon-
ald House Charity, 70 percent of
Canadian families live outside a
city with a children's hospital.
The Ronald McDonald 'Louse
Charity provides these families with
15 Ronald McDonald Houses across
Canada, serving 30, 000 families
across the nation and keeping fami-
lies close to their children.
Each Ronald McDonald House,
run by volunteers, provides a sense
of support and comfort to families
during difficult times with a child
struggling with health scares and
illnesses.
A Ronald McDonald House fash-
ioned similar to the likeness of a
hotel, can house approximately a
dozen families at once. The House
can provide all home comforts
such as toiletries, resources to do
laundry, and a sense of respite,
necessary to attempt to Lighten the
load during a most trying time.
Last week on May 3, a fundraising
event supporting the Ronald
McDonald House Charity,
11Icl lappy Day, occurred at McDon-
ald restaurants nation-wide.
On Mel lappy Day, for each hot
beverage, BigMac and Happy Meal
that was sold, Sl from those pur-
chases went towards the Ronald
McDonald 'louse Charity. In addi-
tion, McDonald socks for S5 a pair
and McDonald ball caps for S10
could be purchased, with full pro-
ceeds going directly to the Charity.
At Goderich's McDonalds, in
addition to the above-mentioned
means to raise money for the Char-
ity, members of the community
showed their support through a
donation -only purchase of home -
baked goods and a raffle.
Prizes from the raffle included
pizzas, an envelope of McDonald's
coupons, a bird feeder, coffee gift
baskets, a blow up boat and home -
baked pies.
Assistant Manager at the
McDonalds in Goderich, Jordan
Bucht helped organize the
McHappy Day event and the com-
munity was able to raise $6, 863 for
the Ronald McDonald House
Foundation and the Ronald
McDonald House in London. The
total monies raised in all three
locations of Exeter, Kincardine and
Goderich, was $25, 395.
"It's a great cause. A lot of people
from Goderich and other places
where they don't have a children's
hospital, spend a lot of time in the
Ronald McDonald I louse. A lot of
families here in town are positively
affected by the Ronald McDonald
House Foundation," said Bucht.
One local family, Mike, Amanda
and Jack Moody are no strangers to
the Ronald McDonald Ilouse in
London and were asked by the
Charity to be the local.poster family
for this years McHappy Day.
"We didn'thave any reservations
[about being the poster family]. We
just wanted to give back. We would
love to do as much as we can to
support such a great Charity. There
is nothing bad that can be said
about this Charity," explained
Amanda Moody last Wednesday.
Mike and Amanda Moody's son
Jack, now two years -of -age, was diag-
nosed at 7 months with a brain
tumour and the family packed up and
moved into the Ronald McDonald
House in London while Jack under-
went several surgeries and treatments
at the London Children's Hospital.
"His future and our future was
pretty unknown at that point, we
didn't know what was going to hap-
pen or how long we would be there.
We didn't have to worry about a
thing there [at the Ronald McDon-
ald House]," Amanda said. "When
things are so uncertain, it gives you
that comfort of home. You don't
The Goderich Signal -Star
will be
Closed Monday, May 22
Our Advertising deadline for the Wednesday, May 24th issue will be
Thursday, May 18 at 2 pm
Including Classified Word and Regular Advertising, Obits,
In Memoriams, Birthday Clubs etc...
Office Hours Reminder...
Goderich Monday to Thursday 8 am to 5 pm & Friday 8 am to 4pm
signal -Star
120 Huckins St., Goderich
519-524-2614
www.goderlchsignalstar.com
0
0
Cn
•
Rs
v
Members of the community supported
the Ronald McDonald House Charity
through purchases of hot beverages,
BigMacs and Happy Meals on
McHappy Day.
need it, but it makes such a huge
difference when you're going
through such a tough time. For us
to be strong for him, we needed to
get into that house, because it was
our support system."
According to Mike Moody, the
House offered everything that you can
imagine, and lessened the stressors of
the little unimportant things such as
cleaning their clothes, cooking meals
and having a place to call home in
such close proximity to the hospital
"Before all of this happened to us,
I didn't really know much about the
Ronald McDonald House Founda-
tion at all. All of a sudden there was
this group of people, that was right
there to support you in so many dif-
ferent ways and it was really com-
forting," explained Mike. "It helped
a lot to have those resources availa-
ble to us, but mostly it helped emo-
tionally, just having those resources
and having people to talk to."
Through events like McHappy
Day, money is raised for the Ronald
McDonald House, but anyone can
donate items such as toiletries,
to -go containers for meals, and
anything that parents should not.
have to think on and worry about
while their child is in the hospital.
As the poster family for
McHappy Day at the Goderich
McDonalds, the Moody family
arrived with their son Jack, spoke
with members of the community
their to support the Charity.
According to both Mike and
Amanda, during their time in the Ron-
ald McDonald House, they crossed
paths with people theyknewwho were
Photos by Kathleen Smith/Goderich Signal Star
The Moody family (left to right), Mike,
Amanda and Jack came to support
McHappy Day and the Foundation.
Their son Jack has had several
surgeries and spent a lot of time in
London Sick Kids Hospital. Mike and
Amanda Moody stayed in the Ronald
McDonald House in London and
understand the need and importance
of the Charity.
in a similar situation. It opened their
eyes to how many people in the com-
munity have been and continue to be
supported by the Charity.
"This day in particular, is an
important day to our family now
and we told as many people as we
could to come out and support it,
so they are aware of how awesome
an organization this is. It's impor-
tant to help support this organiza-
tion because it is helping people
that you know," explained Mike.
"You're in this scary situation and
you see someone you know who is
in a similar situation, and there are
a lot of people in your community
who are supported or have been
supported by this organization."
The McHappy Day in Goderich
had a successful turn out of sup-
port from the community, with a
steady stream of customers making
•a point to support the Charity as
well as local families dealing with
difficult health situations.
CONTINUED > PAGE 18
A1E.
Notice of Intention to Pass a By-law to
Change the Composition of Council
TOWNSHIP OF
ASHr1tLD-COLBORNt WAWANO5N
TAKE NOTICE that the Council of the Corporation of the Township of
Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh will consider a by-law that if approved, will
change the composition of Council.
Council will consider reducing its membership from 7 to 5, with the Reeve
and Deputy Reeve elected at large and 1 representative from each ward.
The By-law will be considered on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 7:30 pm in the
Council Chamber, 82133 Council Line, RR 5 Goderich.
Dated this 3rd day of May, 2017.
Florence Witherspoon, Deputy Clerk