Ronald McDonald House and the Pop/Beer/Food Pull Tabs

In 2008 we became part of the Escapees RV Club Elks BOF Group.  They were and had been saving the pull tals off soda/beer/food items and sending them off to a Ronald McDonald House.  In 2008 the selected RMH was in Denver.  The money goes to help feed and house families during health crisis situations when they are far from home(60 miles or more).  Ken and I began saving the tabs.  When we ended up in NM for the winters I put up a can to have other help us.  Then I found the American Legion in Elephant Butte collected them and dropped them off there.
When Aedan had to be flown to Denver I wasn't sure how we would manage hotel rooms for who knew how many days/weeks/months.  Lori told me about another house nearby that was $40 per night which wasn't too bad but would still stretch the pocketbook long term.  We had some personal connections in Denver and I knew we would make it work.  After arriving at 3:40 a.m. in Denver the nurses had put Whitney into a small private crisis room for us to stay there the remainder of the night.  They then said the Social Worker would make arrangements for us to stay at Ronald McDonald House Sunday.  It was 3 pm before we got to RMH and it blew us away.  We could not believe what we were seeing then being told. 

This is the sight that met us as we walked in the door.  A whole line of wagons.  We didn't have to make 40 trips with the "stuff" we had brought probably 50% of which we didn't want or need.  We were graciously greeted and were then given a tour. 

As we rounded the corner we saw Alvin, Simon and Theodore (minus KaCe and Ethan).  The center foyer is welcoming and calming.  We talked later about how we all began to relax and to realize with this kind of help we could conquer anything.
http://rmhc.org/what-we-do/ronald-mcdonald-house/stories-1/100-small-gestures/  here is a list of 100 small gestures that make a RMH such a special place..  If things get calmed down I knew I could have the boys brought down from Gillette and we could manage quite nicely.

Here in one of several small and large sitting and play areas.  Here is XBox 360 and a wii.  Not that I know how to run these technical nightmares. 

 This is the foyer for our floor.  Air Hockey and pool were used regularly this week by families.  There are libraries, computer rooms, tv rooms and play rooms on every floor.  And I'm thinking of asking one of the guys to help me with my pool shooting.  It needs practice.

 A piano and guitar are waiting for someone to play them.

The front layabout room.  Note the giant giraffes in the background.  There are four of them in the house.

 There is a pantry on each floor - stocked and ready for us to use.  Are you kidding me? For $15. ($20 with me) they provide a bed; pantry; food; play areas for children  and will see you get to and from the hospital.  We need to support these folks.  Our house has 30 roomd; the new one over by Denver Children's Hospital has 50 rooms.

 Then we were given the key to a storage locker we can put items we purchase for our own family.

 Then we went into the kitchen.  There are two of everything: stove, dishwashers, refrigerators.  There is one frig for us to share with others.  There is one frig that holds food anyone can eat - the leftover frig.  They try to provide two meals a day which are made by volunteer groups, families, individuals.  If not feel free to use the pantry supplies.

 This group - the oldest African American Ladies Group in the U.S. - made the most amazing chicken enchiladas. 

And then there are the playrooms.  This one is outside and there is one attached to each dining/kitchen area.  I figure if I only let them play in one room per day we'll manage just fine.

 This is Denver Stock Show Week and we're having a Cowboy Cook Out here at RMH.

Transplanted Hawaiians

Decorating cupcakes

And what a cookout it was!

So please save those pop tops.  Email, call or text me if you need help dispensing with them.  I'll either pick them up or we'll find an outlet.

The group that fed us tonight do it in gratitude for one of their numbers that lived here 30 days about 7 years ago. 

Thanks to all who donate to RMH!!  It is very appreciated.