El Centro, Calif. – The burden of caring for a sick child can overwhelm a family, especially as medical bills stack up. That’s one of the reasons some say the generosity of the Ronald McDonald House is a sigh of relief.
Israel Samaniego of Imperial knows this from personal experience. “They gave us housing, food. They gave us a home away from home,”
And while families may not be able to make a sick child better, staying at this generous accommodation in San Diego, close by the hospital, may give a family a chance to heal together without worrying about how to pay for additional expenses.
“My family was actually in that situation this year. We spent over two months at the Ronald McDonald House,” Samaniego added.
Today volunteers were out to raise money so others who need a helping hand have a place to grow healthy together.
“If you have a child in the hospital being taken care of you have room and board at a place called the Ronald McDonald House for yourself,” said Mike Castro of the El Centro Kiwanis Club.
That’s why today is “Red Shoe Wednesday” a day when groups of high school and college kids – and adult volunteers, too! – hit the streets in Imperial Valley to invite drivers to donate to the cause.
“We did over $1,600 last year here at this site and we want to beat it this year,” said Castro.
Donations support the Ronald McDonald House of San Diego – a place helping families since 1980.
Red Shoe Wednesday has become an annual tradition in the imperial valley. Volunteers could be seen waving and cheering early this morning hoping to make a difference
The type of generosity this house provides is never forgotten, Castro said.
“My grandson for two months was in the hospital. He was a preemie. And she was put up at the Ronald McDonald House in San Diego, at no cost to her while she was taking care of my grandson,” Castro concluded.