Dear Friends and Family,

As you may know, The Ronald McDonald House Charities is a cause very dear to my heart. I am a volunteer at the house and see first hand the impact that we have on the families and their precious children who are critically ill or injured. The Ronald McDonald House is a "Home-away-from-Home" for more than 250 families who live more than 30 miles outside the city limits of Savannah, GA. These are families whose children have unexpected and serious medical problems that require hospitalization, and who need a place to stay. Perhaps they did not expect to deliver a child before the due date or stand alongside their child while they battle a life-threatening illness. These families could just as easily be yours or someone you know. 

The families we serve are not only experiencing the most traumatic experience of their lives but also face a financial strain and hardship. Many of them cannot afford a hotel room and our Ronald McDonald House provides a safe and affordable housing  option for them.

The very first day I volunteered at the Savannah Ronald McDonald House, I arrived eager and excited to help and meet the families. Within 15 minutes of my arrival a woman ran into the house hysterically crying into Kennette's arms (Our House Manager). Their child died 30 minutes prior. My heart broke and I was overwhelmed with despair. Kennette comforted this woman and not only was she faced with the loss of her grandchild, but her daughter had collapsed and was hospitalized upon the news of her child dying. As if that was not enough for this family to bear at this given time. The hospital had made them aware that they needed to make arrangements for the baby to be transported back to Alabama. They were looking at over $1000 dollars to transport their deceased baby. They clearly could not afford this and were faced with traveling from Savannah, Georgia to Alabama with their dead child in the car. Could you imagine??? This is the harsh reality of what these families go through at the house. Kennette and Nikole made it a point to reach out to Churches and Sponsors and where there is a will... there is a way! They were able to raise the funds for the family to have their child transported to Alabama. They were even able to send them back home with some blankets, pillows, snacks, drinks and restaurant gift cards to stop along the way. The genuine concern and compassion shown by the staff and volunteers at the house is truly priceless and warms any heart. There are no words that can adequately express the emotions and feeling I felt and the found appreciation I have for the health of my young children. The Ronald McDonald House is truly a blessing from God.  It is with great humility that I ask for you to help give the gift of peace of mind to these families.  

It costs $65 a night, to house one family. We request a $10 donation towards this cost for each night they stay, however many are unable to make this contribution and we are proud to say that NO ONE, is turned away because of the inability to pay. Instead, we are able to utilize our Share A Night fund to offset their cost and lessen the financial hardship while they are with us. We work hard all year to raise money for this fund. I am inviting you to be a part of a wonderful opportunity to help make a difference in these families' lives.  We provide all the "comforts" of home- real beds, showers, laundry and home-cooked meals by our wonderful volunteers. The House operates at nearly 100% occupancy, 365 days a year. I know times are tight. Every dollar makes a difference. Your donation will impact the lives of our families beyond their stay at the RMH.

Thank you for your consideration of a gift to this vital fund. On behalf of the families we serve, thank you for participating in Share A Night.

Sincerely,

Monique Cabrera Palmaccio :-)

Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts. You can also choose to leave a little note with your donation :-)

Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!

For those of you wanting to know more about the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Coastal Empire please visit : www.rmhccoastalempire.org