Gabby H.

Gabby H.

The Ronald McDonald House holds a special place in my heart, and I am truly grateful for the time I was able to spend at the House. Now that I am away at Assumption College, it is challenging for me to be as involved with and visit the House as much as I would like. While I was home for winter break, I wanted to get involved any way I could. I know that the House is always in need of food and pantry items. The pantries need to stay well-stocked so meals can be readily prepared and provides some measure of comfort for the families, and makes the House feel more like a “home-away-from-home”.

I first heard of the Ronald McDonald House Teen Board from Mrs. Tara Harris, one of the Board’s Advisors. She had suggested to my mom that the board might be something I would be interested in applying to. Once I researched RMH and the Teen Board, I immediately knew this was something that I wanted to be a part of. Being part of the Board allowed me to meet a lot of new people and engage in many different activities, but developing relationships with the kids at the House and watching them heal both physically and mentally, has been my greatest reward.

I found my time on the Teen Board to be a fun and exciting, but also humbling experience. Most of the people who are living at the House come from other countries and cultures, and are traveling without their whole families. It really helped me to put into perspective and be more aware of how fortunate I am to be healthy and to live where I have access to plenty of food and excellent medical care, and where I am surrounded by the support and love of my family. I also found that although I am not fluent in Spanish, it was extremely helpful to have some knowledge of the language which made it easier to communicate with others. I really enjoyed all of the three years I spent as a Teen Board member. Without question, I absolutely loved spending time with the children and their families more than anything. Knowing that I made their day a little brighter and helped them forget their challenges, even if only for a short time, had a positive effect on me.

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