Christmas is a time for sharing and letting your neighbor know you care about each and every one of them, even the child who rides their bicycle across your newly planted rye grass. Just suppose within a few days you are told this child is gravely ill in the hospital in San Diego. Their parents are distraught, what to do, we have three more children at home, where will we stay?
I have met many parents who have had children hospitalized with serious life threatening illnesses that required weeks of treatment in San Diego. No relatives or friends to stay with, finances already strained, no insurance, in a strange town, and over a hundred miles from home. What do they do now? Ronald McDonald House is just across the street with a clean bed, a warm meal, a hot shower and a smiling face to greet them with a hug thrown in for good measure. 25 percent of the people who use RMH are from the Imperial Valley.
We care about our neighbors and their children. We care because it could be one of us with a sick child. We may have the highest unemployment in the state and the lowest income but we have the biggest hearts when it comes to caring.
The generosity of our neighbors, volunteers and especially the local businesses, both large and small make a difference to our children. Thank you all for your caring.
Buy a “Southern Living Christmas” cookbook for $10 at Dillard’s. The money is donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities. They have partnered for 19 years with RMH and donated over 9.2 million dollars.
