A huge thanks to Collective Bias® who sponsored this post and helped me provide healthy snacks for kids and families in need. For more information see my Full Disclosure.
It’s that time again! Kids are going back to school. While most parents are thinking about what to put in lunches, for some, that is the least of their worries. Imagine having to travel hundreds of miles to get the medical help your child needs, but having no place to stay, and little money for anything else. Some parents end up on hospital chairs, even floors. They might succumb to the vending machine for a high-calorie mini meal. But there is a place of refuge that helps keep families together and meets all their minor needs.
What is the Ronald McDonald House?
The Ronald McDonald House is a home away from home for thousands of families across the country who have children undergoing medical treatment. Not only do they provide a safe place to stay, but they try to meet every need a family might have. Healthy snacks are just a small part of the services they provide, but they can make a world of difference.
After I learned about the need they fill, I jumped at the opportunity to partner with Champions for Kids and Dole to help my local Ronald McDonald House.
It was easy to see what the House needed by going to their site and checking out their wish list. To fill their needs I got my community involved by doing a small food drive at local stores in my area.
I called several stores and a lot of them said no. But a few said yes and allowed my daughter and I to bring a box with signs to put at the front of the store. Some of them even allowed me to put it right by the check out area! I filled the boxes with a few Dole Fruit Bowls and Squish’ems Snacks to encourage donations and it worked! I came back to find several more items donated. (See our whole experience on Google+.)
When I went to the Ronald McDonald House to donate all the items, not only was I greeted with a warm welcome, but they gave me the grand tour! If you have the chance to visit a House, you will be inspired and compelled to do more.
Families are welcome to stay as long as they need! Their worries are relived and they only need to think about their children’s recovery because almost everything else is taken care of.
Healthy snacks are always available just in case families have to rush to the hospital. Spaces for recreation and play are there to help them de-stress. Free personal care items are always on-hand because grabbing a tooth brush is the last thing on people’s minds in an emergency.
The Dole Back to School Snacks Project
Champions for Kids and Dole want to make it easy for you to help your Local Ronald McDonald House or favorite charity and provide healthy snacks like Dole Fruit Bowls and Dole Squish’ems Snacks for kids and families in need.
To learn more about Champions for Kids watch the short video below or visit their website, and check them out on Facebook and Twitter.
For more information about Dole’s Healthy Snacks, visit them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram.
Get even more inspiration for giving back by following me on Facebook or Pinterest. Thanks for your support!
I’m not generally a fan of McDonald’s, but the Ronald McDonald House provides an incredible service. (I know families who have benefited from being able to stay there while they had hospitalized infants.)
I’m so glad to see this focus on healthy snacks! Thanks for sharing about this initiative.
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I think we have one of these contribution boxes at our Walmart, and I’ve contributed to it, but wasn’t sure exactly what the food was for. This is a good project.
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I absolutely LOVE the Ronald McDonald House and what they do for families. I did my CFK project with them as well.
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I love Ronald McDonald House.It is the safest place for children medical treatment.It is the safest place for children recovery.
HI there! In lieu of our family grab bag each year, we cook & serve a meal at the Ronald McDonald house over the holidays. This is a great idea to do in conjunction for the kids to take a big part! Is there a way you can pass on the signage to use or do you know if the dole for kids project is still active? Thanks in advance!
I’m not sure if it is still active, but you can call the Ronald McDonald house you serve at and get logos for signage. I just put the logo in a word doc and added some type. What a great holiday tradition!